A metal-organic framework featuring highly sensitive fluorescence sensing for Al3+ ions

High sensitivity and selectivity for the detection of metal ions are very important to protect human health. Fluorescent metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as new sensing materials have attracted more and more attention. Herein, a pillar-layered fluorescent metal-organic framework, {[H2N(CH3)(2)](2)[Cd-5(TCPE)(3)(4,4 '-bpy)(2)(MeOH)(2)(H2O)(4)]}(n) (NKM-102) (H4TCPE = tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)ethylene acids, 4,4 '-bpy = 4,4 '-bipyridine), has been synthesized through utilization of the H4TCPE ligand with typical AIE characteristics. NKM-102 exhibits excellent fluorescence emission performance and detects Al3+ ions with high selectivity through turn-off effect and emission color change. Moreover, the detection limit of NKM-102 can reach 158 ppb, which is lower than the maximum limit of Al3+ ions in drinking water recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (200 ppb). Therefore, the NKM-102 probe is a prominent candidate for the visual detection of Al3+ ions with high sensitivity and selectivity.

Automated summary

The fluorescent metal-organic framework NKM-102 shows high selectivity for detecting Al3+ ions through turn-off effect and emission color change, with excellent fluorescence emission performance and a detection limit as low as 158 ppb.