One-pot synthesis of copper nanocluster/Tb-MOF composites for the ratiometric fluorescence detection of Cu2+

The increasing degradation of ecosystems due to heavy metal residues has led to environment and food contamination, prompting the development of convenient platforms for monitoring heavy metals. Here, a new dual-emission fluorescent sensor CuNCs@Tb@UiO-66-(COOH)(2) for the detection of copper ions (Cu2+) has been synthesized using one-pot encapsulation of Tb(III) and glutathione-stabilized copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) into metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) UiO-66-(COOH)(2). In this ratiometric sensor, the fluorescence intensity of Tb3+ decreased significantly upon the addition of Cu2+, whereas that of CuNCs showed good stability, together with an apparent colour change. Therefore, ratiometric fluorescence detection of Cu2+ can be accomplished by measuring the ratio of the fluorescence intensity at the 450 nm (F-450) wavelength of CuNCs to the 548 nm (F-548) emission of Tb3+ in the fluorescence spectra of the CuNCs@Tb@UiO-66-(COOH)(2) suspension. Moreover, the obtained fluorescent probe showed good results in the detection of actual samples. This work can provide the basis of method for the exploration of ratiometric fluorescence and visual sensors of trace pollutants analysis in complicated samples.

Automated summary

The presence of heavy metal residues leads to environmental and food contamination, requiring convenient monitoring platforms. In this study, a new dual-emission fluorescent sensor was successfully synthesized for the detection of copper ions, and it showed good results in the detection of actual samples.