A metal-organic framework for selectively sensing of PO43- anion in aqueous solution

A Tb-based metal-organic framework TbNTA H2O (TbNTA1, NTA = nitrilotriacetate) was synthesized and characterized. Photoluminescence (PL) properties of anion incorporated TbNTA1 were investigated with the addition of the aqueous solution of different anions such as F-, Cl-, NO2-, CO32-, SO42- and PO43-. The luminescence intensity of the anion-incorporated TbNTA1 showed a different degree of changes, particularly for the PO43- incorporated TbNTA1, which showed a significant quenching effect. The unique selective detection of PO43- ions in water indicates that TbNTA1 is promising to be employed as a novel luminescence probe for phosphate ions in biological system. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.