A porous Ni-based metal-organic framework as a selective luminescent probe to Fe3+ metal ion and MeOH

Nowadays, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with functional pore structures as a new type of sensing materials have attracted the increasing attention in fluorescence assays. In this research, a Ni-based MOF, [Ni-2(BDC)(2)(DABCO)], (1; H2BDC = 1,4-benzene dicarboxylic acid, DABCO = 1,4-diazabicyclo [2.2.2]octane) was prepared under solvothermal condition. Studying the luminescence properties reveals that 1 showed a highly selective and sensitive sensor for detection of Fe3+ ion through luminescent quenching. The luminescence probe of Fe3+ displays a response time of < 1 min, low detection limit (2.5 mu M), and a broad linear range (0-200 mu M). Importantly, 1 can be cycled at least four times without loss of emission signals. The presence of other ions such as 250 mu M of As3+, Al3+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Ni2+, Co3+, Fe3+, Pb2+ and Cd2+ had no significant effect on detection of Fe3+ ion. Most interestingly, 1 exhibits a highly selective, sensitive and rapid response to MeOH which suggests that this MOF is a promising luminescence sensor material for metal ions and small organic molecules.