Water-Stable Eu6-Cluster-Based fcu-MOF with Exposed Vinyl Groups for Ratiometric and Fluorescent Visual Sensing of Hydrogen Sulfide

Detection of H2S in the biological system has attracted enormous attention in recent years. In this work, a new vinyl-functionalized metal-organic framework (MOF), [(Me2NH2)(2)] [Eu-6(mu(3)-OH)(8)(BDC-CH=CH2)(6)(H2O)(6)] (Eu-BDC-CH=CH2, BDC-CH=CH2 = 2-vinylterephthalic acid), was synthesized under solvothermal conditions. The vinyl groups in the ligands can not only modulate the antenna effect of the ligand on Eu3+ ions but also serve as an exposed reactive site to allow for the quantitative detection of H2S by Eu-BDC-CH=CH2. The ratiometric fluorescent probe has the advantages of water stability, acid-base stability (pH = 2-11), fast response (<2 min), high selectivity, and sensitivity (LOD = 38.4 mu M). We also used Eu-BDC-CH=CH2 to detect and analyze H2S in tap and lake waters, demonstrating the potential of the probe for biological and environmental applications. In addition, the MOF-based agarose hydrogel film allows for the visual detection of H2S via a smartphone by identifying the RGB values. The vinyl-functionalized MOF can thus be a powerful sensing platform for H2S.

Automated summary

A vinyl-functionalized metal-organic framework (MOF) was synthesized and used to develop a ratiometric fluorescent probe for the quantitative detection of H2S. The MOF-based agarose hydrogel film allowed for the visual detection of H2S via a smartphone. This vinyl-functionalized MOF has the potential to be a powerful sensing platform for H2S.