Yb(III)-based MOFs with different bulky backbone ligands for optical detection and degradation of organic molecules in wastewater

Three Yb(III)-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with different bulky ligands, namely [Yb(L-1)(1.5)(DMF)](n) (1), [Yb(L-2)(0.5)(NO3)(DMF)(2)](n) (2) and [Yb(L-3)(0.5)(L-3)(0.5)(NO3)(DMF)(H2O)(n) (3) (H2L1 = terephthalic acid, H4L2 = 5,5'-(diazene-1,2-dily)diisophthalic acid, H2L3 = anthracene-9,10-dicarboxylic acid, and DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide), were solvothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. Single crystal XRD analyses indicate that the backbones of ligands play an important role in governing the formation of the final frameworks. When compound 1 and compound 2 assume 3D (4,4,6)-connected {4(2).6(2).8(2)}{4(3).6(3)}(2){4(8).6(7)}(2) and (3,6)-connected {4(2).6)(2){4(4).6(2).8(7).10(2)} topology structures, compound 3 displays a 2D 4(4) network. All the three compounds display high sensitivities in the detection of acetone (ACE) as fluorescent sensors. Moreover, 1-3 exhibit good photodegradation efficiencies towards rhodamine B(RhB) in aqueous solution under UV irradiation. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.