An Eu3+-functionalized metal-organic framework (Eu@Zn-MOF) for the highly sensitive detection of rotenone in serum

In this work, a metal-organic framework (MOF) (Zn-MOF) with free sulfonate groups (-SO3-) on its organic ligands is constructed in the first step via a solvothermal synthesis method. Then, based on the coordination post-synthetic modification (PSM) strategy, an Eu3+-functionalized hybrid material (Eu@Zn-MOF) with excellent fluorescence properties is successfully prepared. Notably, the prepared Eu@Zn-MOF can serve as a visual probe to specifically recognize and detect rotenone based on the fluorescence quenching effect. In addition, Eu@Zn-MOF as a sensor of rotenone exhibits some other outstanding properties, including good selectivity and an anti-interference ability, high sensitivity (LOD = 2.31 x 10(-7) mol L-1), a fast response speed and reusability, which contribute to developing its real-life applications. Moreover, the possible sensing mechanisms of Eu@Zn-MOF towards rotenone are confirmed to be a combination of dynamic quenching and competitive absorption. This is the first time the determination of rotenone based on a fluorescence detection method has been realized.

Automated summary

In this work, a metal-organic framework (MOF) with free sulfonate groups on its organic ligands was synthesized via a solvothermal method. Subsequently, a Eu3+-functionalized hybrid material with excellent fluorescence properties was prepared using a coordination post-synthetic modification (PSM) strategy. The Eu@Zn-MOF exhibited the ability to specifically recognize and detect rotenone through fluorescence quenching, and showed other outstanding properties such as high selectivity, anti-interference ability, sensitivity, fast response speed, and reusability.