Fabrication of nanosheets of a fluorescent metal-organic framework [Zn(BDC)(H2O)]n (BDC=1,4-benzenedicarboxylate): Ultrasonic synthesis and sensing of ethylamine

A supramolecular metal-organic framework (MOF) constructed by two-dimensional (2D) infinite coordination polymers, [Zn(BDC)(H2O)](n) (1, BDC = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate), was synthesized by the reaction of zinc acetate with H2BDC in dimethylformamide (DMF) under ultrasonic irradiation at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure. Yield of I varied from 43.4% to 53.2% for the reaction time of 10-90 min. Samples with different morphologies, i.e. nanobelts, nanosheets, and microcrystals, were obtained under ultrasound irradiation for different reaction times. Fluorescence emission of nanosheets of [Zn(BDC)(H2O)](n) was found to be highly sensitive to ethylamine, and solid state fluorescence intensity decreased with increasing contents of ethylamine in acetonitrile solution due to weak fluorescence quenching effect. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.