Metal–organic phosphorescence materials: Optical mechanisms, regulation strategies, and diverse applications

Metal–organic phosphorescence materials (MOPMs) are a type of highly efficient room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) system characterized by the structural integration and photophysical coupling of metal-containing units and organic components. By combining the distinct advantages of both inorganic and pure organic RTP materials, MOPMs exhibit long lifetimes, robust photostability, and low toxicity. These attributes render them highly versatile across various fields. This review provides a comprehensive overview of MOPMs. It begins with their definition and classification, including metal-organic complexes, metal-organic polymers, metal-organic frameworks, metal nanoclusters, metal-doped carbon dots, metal-organic hybrid perovskites, and organic-inorganic metal halides. Subsequently, we systematically elucidate the luminescence mechanisms and the corresponding optical regulation strategies inherent to these systems. Finally, we discuss the applications of MOPMs in photoelectric devices, information storage, bioimaging, therapy, and sensing technologies. This review aims to inspire innovative designs of MOPMs and accelerate their future development for a broader spectrum of applications.