Ultrathin 2D Eu3+@Zn-MOF Nanosheets: A Functional Nanoplatform for Highly Selective, Sensitive, and Visualized Detection of Organochlorine Pesticides in a Water Environment

Facile and rapid detection of residual organic pesticides on the fruits and vegetables has recently drawn increased attention in the food safety field. Herein, a surfactant-assisted solvothermal route with subsequent post-modification was designed for the preparation of Eu3+-functionated Zn-BDC ultrathin nanosheets (labeled as Eu3+(a Zn-MOF-NS, BDC: 1,4benzenedicarboxylate) with the thickness of 5 nm. The as-obtained Eu3+(a Zn-MOF-NS could be homogeneously dispersed in aqueous systems to form a highly-stable collosol. Under the UV excitation of 325 nm, the as-obtained Eu3+(a Zn-MOF-NS displayed red photoluminescence emission of Eu3+ ions, which could be notably quenched by an organochlorine pesticide, 2,6-dichloro-4-nitroaniline (DCNA), without interferences from ions, organic small molecules, and other pesticides. The detection limit and Ksv were 0.17 mu M (35 ppb) and 3.2 x 105 M-1 in the water system, respectively. Moreover, the present 2D Eu3+(a Zn-MOF sensor was also employed for the detection of DCNA in Chaohu Lake water and tap water and in apple, cabbage, and pakchoi samples with the relative standard deviation (RSD) ranging from 4.74 to 9.77%. Further investigations revealed that the competitive absorption between DCNA and the as-obtained Eu3+(a Zn-MOF-NS resulted in the fluorescence quenching of the probe.

Automated summary

The facile and rapid detection of residual organic pesticides on fruits and vegetables has gained increased attention in food safety. In this study, a new solvothermal route with subsequent post-modification was designed to prepare a highly stable nanosheet probe for the detection of harmful pesticides. Experimental results showed that the probe could effectively detect the target pesticide in different environments.