Metal–organic frameworks for nonlinear optics and lasing

Nonlinear optics (NLO) is a crucial branch of photonics that greatly facilitates the transmission, processing, and storage of photonic signals. It meets the needs of the rapidly growing information demands of modern society. Materials with NLO properties and laser capabilities have a wide range of applications in fields such as optical communication, optical information storage, biomedical imaging, laser technology, and quantum information technology. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as particularly exciting hybrid inorganic–organic porous materials that can be easily self‐assembled from corresponding inorganic metal ions/clusters and organic linkers. The structural diversity and flexibility of MOFs offer ample opportunities for the orderly organization of highly hyperpolarizable chromophore molecules within confined spaces. This makes it ideal for NLO signal and laser emissions. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of strategies to construct MOFs with NLO and laser properties, as well as recent research developments for enhancing and adjusting these properties. Through analysis of chromophore arrangement and various interactions within the framework, we aim to gain insight into the correlation between MOF structures and optical properties. This will facilitate the design and synthesis of MOFs with excellent NLO and laser capabilities through the judicious selection of metal ions and organic linkers. Finally, we outline the future challenges and potential research directions for MOFs in NLO and laser fields.