Highly Fluorescent Metal-Organic Framework for the Sensing of Volatile Organic Compounds

This Communication describes an infinite 1D ribbon metal organic framework (MOF) that crystallizes to produce large channels (13.4 x 17.5 angstrom) and exhibits strong aggregation enhanced fluorescence emission. The network is composed, of tetrapyridine tetraphenylethene molecules coordinating to ZnCl2 nodes. When activated; the network exhibits enhanced turn-on fluorescence in response to methyl-substituted volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and quenching in response to nitro-substituted VOCs. This MOF shows potential as a valuable sensor due to its high surface area, highly fluorescent TPE moiety, and significant response to VOCs.