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Multi-lanthanide metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offer a flexible route for designing multifunctional materials. Here we report a carborane-based isostructural series of MOFs of formula {[(NdyYb1-y)3(mCB-L)4(NO3)(DMF)x]n.Solv}, including the homometallic Nd (y = 1) and Yb (y = 0) compounds and a mixed Nd/Yb analogue (y = 0.44). Magnetic, magnetocaloric and near-infrared (NIR) optical properties were investigated by dc/ac magnetometry, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD), and photoluminescence. Nd3+ and Yb3+ yield MOFs combining slow relaxation of the magnetization (U/kB ˜ 19 K), cryogenic magnetocaloric response (-ΔSm ˜ 1.6 R at 5 T, 1.8 K) and ion-centered NIR luminescence. Notably, the mixed Nd/Yb MOF further extends this multifunctionality by exhibiting dual NIR emission at 998 nm and 1060 nm arising from partial Nd → Yb energy transfer. These results underscore carborane ligands as effective blocks for engineering multi-lanthanide frameworks, and highlight {Nd/Yb} MOFs as multifunctional materials for quantum technologies, optical communication, and cryogenic cooling.
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