Efficient and selective fluorescence sensing of nitro-containing aromatic compounds by a binuclear lanthanide-based metal-organic framework

The rapid and selective detection of the highly toxic and explosive nitro-containing aromatic compounds has been drawn more and more attention. Herein, a lanthanide-based metal-organic framework (1) was synthesized by incorporating a tetraphenylethylene moiety as the four-point connected node, and exhibits a three-dimensional porous material. This new synthesized MOF exhibits excellent fluorescence activity, due to the ligand-emission effect, and could be regarded as a sensitive and selective fluorescence sensor for p-nitroaniline (NA) over the nitro-containing aromatic compounds with almost complete fluorescence quenching after adding NA into the suspension system. The mechanism of fluorescence sensing process has been also researched by DFT studies and UV-vis adsorption spectra to gain an insight analysis.

Automated summary

In this study, a lanthanide-based metal-organic framework was synthesized and exhibited excellent fluorescence activity, making it a sensitive and selective fluorescence sensor for p-nitroaniline.