Photo-induced electron transfer in a metal-organic framework: a new approach towards a highly sensitive luminescent probe for Fe3+

A Co-based mixed-ligand metal-organic framework (MOF), ZJU-109, is reported by utilizing 6-(4-pyridyl)-terephthalic acid (H(2)pta) and 4,4 '-bis(imidazolyl)biphenyl (4,4 '-bimbp) as double linkers. By tuning the d-PET process between ligands 4,4 '-bimbp and H(2)pta, a fluorescent turn-on sensor for Fe3+ with a detection limit as low as 0.053 mu M has been demonstrated.