Tuning the Luminescence of Metal–Organic Frameworks for Detection of Energetic Heterocyclic Compounds

High-performance adsorption and separation of anionic dyes in water using a chemically stable graphene-like metal–organic framework

MOF BUC-17 was used to conduct efficiently selective uptake of organic dyes, and achieve rapid separation of CR and MB from their mixture.

pH-Stable Eu- and Tb-organic-frameworks mediated by an ionic liquid for the aqueous-phase detection of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP)

pH-Stable Eu- and Tb-organic-frameworks mediated by ionic liquids for the aqueous-phase detection of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP).

An anionic Cd(ii) boron imidazolate framework with reversible structural transformation and biomolecular sensing properties

An anionic Cd(ii) boron imidazolate framework (BIF-82) not only showed reversible structural transformation, but can also encapsulate Ag nanoparticles into its structure for further sensing of cysteine.

AIEgens-Functionalized Inorganic-Organic Hybrid Materials: Fabrications and Applications

Inorganic materials functionalized with organic fluorescent molecules combine advantages of them both, showing potential applications in biomedicine, chemosensors, light-emitting, and so on. However, when more traditional organic dyes are doped into the inorganic materials, the emission of resulting hybrid materials may be quenched, which is not conducive to the efficiency and sensitivity of detection. In contrast to the aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) system, the aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) with high solid quantum efficiency, offer new potential for developing highly efficient inorganic-organic hybrid luminescent materials. So far, many AIEgens have been incorporated into inorganic materials through either physical doping caused by aggregation induced emission (AIE) or chemical bonding (e.g., covalent bonding, ionic bonding, and coordination bonding) caused by bonding induced emission (BIE) strategy. The hybrid materials exhibit excellent photoactive properties due to the intramolecular motion of AIEgens is restricted by inorganic matrix. Recent advances in the fabrication of AIEgens-functionalized inorganic-organic hybrid materials and their applications in biomedicine, chemical sensing, and solid-state light emitting are presented.

Luminescent Porous Polymers Based on Aggregation-Induced Mechanism: Design, Synthesis and Functions

Enormous research efforts are focusing on the design and synthesis of advanced luminescent systems, owing to their diverse capability in scientific studies and technological developments. In particular, fluorescence systems based on aggregation-induced emission (AIE) have emerged to show great potential for sensing, bio-imaging, and optoelectronic applications. Among them, integrating AIE mechanisms to design porous polymers is unique because it enables the combination of porosity and luminescence activity in one molecular skeleton for functional design. In recent years rapid progress in exploring AIE-based porous polymers has developed a new class of luminescent materials that exhibit broad structural diversity, outstanding properties and functions and promising applications. By classifying the structural nature of the skeleton, herein the design principle, synthetic development and structural features of different porous luminescent materials are elucidated, including crystalline covalent organic frameworks (COFs), metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and amorphous porous organic polymers (POPs). The functional exploration of these luminescent porous polymers are highlighted by emphasizing electronic interplay within the confined nanospace, fundamental issues to be addressed are disclosed, and future directions from chemistry, physics and materials science perspectives are proposed.

A Highly Stable 3D Luminescent Indium-Polycarboxylic Framework for the Turn-off Detection of UO22+, Ru3+, and Biomolecule Thiamines

Hydrothermal reaction of the multidentate organic ligand (H₆TTHA) with indium chloride (InCl₃) produced a highly stable 3D luminescent indium-organic framework [In₂(OH)₂(H₂TTHA)(H₂O)₂]_n (1). Complex 1 exhibits remarkable luminescent properties, especially the multifunction sensitivity and selectivity for detecting Ru³⁺, UO₂²⁺; as well as small biomolecules thiamines (TPP, TMP, and TCl) based on a "turn-off" manner. In particular, the pyrophosphate groups of TPP and the phosphate groups of TMP could further affect the quenching rate, leading to different luminescent responds. In addition, we also discussed and proved the luminescence quenching mechanism in detail through comparative test and PXRD characterization. Therefore, complex 1 could be used as a kind of excellent luminescence sensor to detect Ru³⁺, UO₂²⁺, and thiamines (TPP, TMP, and TCl).

Emerging Multifunctional Metal-Organic Framework Materials

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), also known as coordination polymers, represent an interesting type of solid crystalline materials that can be straightforwardly self-assembled through the coordination of metal ions/clusters with organic linkers. Owing to the modular nature and mild conditions of MOF synthesis, the porosities of MOF materials can be systematically tuned by judicious selection of molecular building blocks, and a variety of functional sites/groups can be introduced into metal ions/clusters, organic linkers, or pore spaces through pre-designing or post-synthetic approaches. These unique advantages enable MOFs to be used as a highly versatile and tunable platform for exploring multifunctional MOF materials. Here, the bright potential of MOF materials as emerging multifunctional materials is highlighted in some of the most important applications for gas storage and separation, optical, electric and magnetic materials, chemical sensing, catalysis, and biomedicine.

Synthesis of hybrid metal-organic frameworks of {FexMyM'1-x-y}-MIL-88B and the use of anions to control their structural features

The controlled formation of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) or coordination polymers (CPs) with suitable components and structural features is one of the most important themes in MOF research. In particular, the reliable preparation of hybrid MOFs containing more than two different kinds of metal ions or organic linkers and a comprehensive understanding of the structural flexibility of MOFs are the central issues for the production of MOFs with the desired properties. We report the synthesis of micro-sized hybrid MOF particles [also known as coordination polymer particles (CPPs)] containing two or three kinds of metal ions in each particle: {Fe_xM_yM'_1-x-y}-MIL-88B (MIL stands for Materials of Institut Lavoisier, M and M' = Ga, Co, or Mn). Scanning electron microscopy images revealed the formation of well-defined uniform micro-sized hexagonal rods, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and elemental mapping images verified the simultaneous incorporation of two or three kinds of metal ions within the CPPs. Interestingly, the structural features of CPPs made from MIL-88B were controlled by altering the anions involved in the structure. Incorporating large acetylacetonate anions within the structure resulted in the closed MIL-88B structure with a small cell volume. However, the open MIL-88B structure with a large cell volume was obtained when small chloride anions were incorporated. The intermediate semi-open MIL-88B structure was also prepared using nitrate anions. Three different structural forms of MIL-88B were verified by powder X-ray diffraction, whole pattern fitting, and thermogravimetric analysis.

A four-fold interpenetrated metal-organic framework as a fluorescent sensor for volatile organic compounds

A four-fold interpenetrated three dimensional (3D) metal-organic framework, [Cd2(tppe)(bpdc)2(H2O)]·solvent (1), was synthesized with a tetraphenylethene (TPE)-based ligand, 1,1,2,2-tetrakis(4-(pyridin-4-yl)phenyl)ethene (TPPE). This complex exhibits intense blue luminescence and is sensitive to toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Ultralong Persistent Room Temperature Phosphorescence of Metal Coordination Polymers Exhibiting Reversible pH-Responsive Emission

Ultra-long-persistent room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) materials have attracted much attention and present various applications in illumination, displays, and the bioimaging field; however, the persistent RTP is generally from the inorganic phosphor materials to date. Herein, we show that the metal coordination polymers (CPs) could be new types of emerging long-lived RTP materials for potential sensor applications. First, two kinds of Cd-based CPs, Cd(m-BDC)(H2O) (1) and Cd(m-BDC)(BIM) (2) (m-BDC = 1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid; BIM = benzimidazole), were obtained through a hydrothermal process, and the samples were found to exhibit two-dimensional layered structures, which are stabilized by interlayer C-H···π interaction and π···π interaction, respectively. The CPs show unexpected second-time-scale ultra-long-persistent RTP after the removal of UV excitation, and this persistent emission can be detected easily on a time scale of 0-10 s. The CPs also feature a tunable luminescence decay lifetime by adjusting their coordination situation and packing fashion of ligands. Theoretical calculation further indicates that the introduction of the second ligand could highly influence the electronic structure and intermolecular electron transfer toward tailoring the RTP of the CP materials. Moreover, CP 2 exhibits well-defined pH- and temperature-dependent phosphorescence responses. Therefore, this work provides a facile way to develop new type of CPs with steady-state and dynamic tuning of the RTP properties from both experimental and theoretical perspectives, which have potential applications in the areas of displays, pH/temperature sensors, and phosphorescence logic gates. On account of suitable incorporation of inorganic and organic building blocks, it can be expected that the ultra-long-persistent RTP CPs can be extended to other similar systems due to the highly tunable structures and facile synthesis routes.

Chemical Sensors Based on Metal-Organic Frameworks

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as chemical sensors have developed rapidly in recent years. There have been many papers concerning this field and interest is still growing. The reason is that the specific merits of MOFs can be utilized to enhance sensitivity and selectivity by various energy/charge transfers occurring among different ligands, ligand, and metal centers, such as from ligands to metal centers or metal centers to ligands, as well as from MOF skeletons to guest species. This review intends to provide an update on recent progress in various applications of different MOF-based sensors on the basis of their luminescent and electrochemical responses towards small molecules, gas molecules, ions (cations and anions), pH, humidity, temperature, and biomolecules. MOF-based sensors function by utilizing different mechanisms, including luminescent responses of "turn-on" and "turn-off", as well as electrochemical responses.

Highly Stable Zr(IV)-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks for the Detection and Removal of Antibiotics and Organic Explosives in Water

Antibiotics and organic explosives are among the main organic pollutants in wastewater; their detection and removal are quite important but challenging. As a new class of porous materials, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are considered as a promising platform for the sensing and adsorption applications. In this work, guided by a topological design approach, two stable isostructural Zr(IV)-based MOFs, Zr6O4(OH)8(H2O)4(CTTA)8/3 (BUT-12, H3CTTA = 5'-(4-carboxyphenyl)-2',4',6'-trimethyl-[1,1':3',1″-terphenyl]-4,4″-dicarboxylic acid) and Zr6O4(OH)8(H2O)4(TTNA)8/3 (BUT-13, H3TTNA = 6,6',6″-(2,4,6-trimethylbenzene-1,3,5-triyl)tris(2-naphthoic acid)) with the the-a topological structure constructed by D4h 8-connected Zr6 clusters and D3h 3-connected linkers were designed and synthesized. The two MOFs are highly porous with the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area of 3387 and 3948 m(2) g(-1), respectively. Particularly, BUT-13 features one of the most porous water-stable MOFs reported so far. Interestingly, these MOFs represent excellent fluorescent properties, which can be efficiently quenched by trace amounts of nitrofurazone (NZF) and nitrofurantoin (NFT) antibiotics as well as 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) organic explosives in water solution. They are responsive to NZF and TNP at parts per billion (ppb) levels, which are among the best performing luminescent MOF-based sensing materials. Simultaneously, both MOFs also display high adsorption abilities toward these organic molecules. It was demonstrated that the adsorption plays an important role in the preconcentration of analytes, which can further increase the fluorescent quenching efficiency. These results indicate that BUT-12 and -13 are favorable materials for the simultaneous selective detection and removal of specific antibiotics and organic explosives from water, being potentially useful in monitoring water quality and treating wastewater.

Highly Emissive Covalent Organic Frameworks

Highly luminescent covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are rarely achieved because of the aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) of π-π stacked layers. Here, we report a general strategy to design highly emissive COFs by introducing an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) mechanism. The integration of AIE-active units into the polygon vertices yields crystalline porous COFs with periodic π-stacked columnar AIE arrays. These columnar AIE π-arrays dominate the luminescence of the COFs, achieve exceptional quantum yield via a synergistic structural locking effect of intralayer covalent bonding and interlayer noncovalent π-π interactions and serve as a highly sensitive sensor to report ammonia down to sub ppm level. Our strategy breaks through the ACQ-based mechanistic limitations of COFs and opens a way to explore highly emissive COF materials.

Adaptive soft molecular self-assemblies

Adaptive molecular self-assemblies provide possibility of constructing smart and functional materials in a non-covalent bottom-up manner. Exploiting the intrinsic properties of responsiveness of non-covalent interactions, a great number of fancy self-assemblies have been achieved. In this review, we try to highlight the recent advances in this field. The following contents are focused: (1) environmental adaptiveness, including smart self-assemblies adaptive to pH, temperature, pressure, and moisture; (2) special chemical adaptiveness, including nanostructures adaptive to important chemicals, such as enzymes, CO2, metal ions, redox agents, explosives, biomolecules; (3) field adaptiveness, including self-assembled materials that are capable of adapting to external fields such as magnetic field, electric field, light irradiation, and shear forces.

A gadolinium MOF acting as a multi-responsive and highly selective luminescent sensor for detecting o-, m-, and p-nitrophenol and Fe3+ ions in the aqueous phase

A new Gd-MOF constructed with a π-conjugated ligand shows highly luminescent selective sensing of o-, m-, and p-nitrophenol and Fe³⁺ ions in an aqueous system.

Photoelectric properties and potential nitro derivatives sensing by a highly luminescent of Zn(ii) and Cd(ii) metal–organic frameworks assembled by the flexible hexapodal ligand, 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine hexaacetic acid

The luminescent quenching of coordination polymers 1 and 2 were especially obvious with the increasing of the nitro derivatives concentration, indicating 1 and 2 have very high sensitivity sensing properties.

Supramolecular aggregates as sensory ensembles

Recent research progress in sensing based on induced supramolecular aggregation or disaggregation.

Halogen-bridged metal–organic frameworks constructed from bipyridinium-based ligand: structures, photochromism and non-destructive readout luminescence switching

Halogen-bridged photochromic metal–organic frameworks have been reported, and one can exhibit photomodulated luminescence featuring a non-destructive readout capability.

Selective fluorescence detection of anilines and Fe3+ ions by two lanthanide metal–organic frameworks

Two isostructural lanthanide metal–organic frameworks [Ln₂(TDC)₃(CH₃OH)₂·(CH₃OH)] (Ln = Eu, 1; Tb, 2, TDC = 2,5-thiophenedicarboxylic acid) were successfully synthesized.

A responsive MOF nanocomposite for decoding volatile organic compounds

A molecular decoding platform, which recognizes aromatic VOCs with distinctly different 2D readouts, has been developed by a responsive luminescent MOF nanocomposite. The VOC recognition is based on an unprecedented dual-readout orthogonal identification scheme.

Fluorescence tuning of Zn(ii)-based metallo-supramolecular coordination polymers and their application for picric acid detection

A series of metallo-supramolecular coordination polymers displayed strong and tunable visible luminescent emission and possessed the capability for detection of picric acid (PA) with high sensitivity and selectivity.

Challenges and recent advances in MOF–polymer composite membranes for gas separation

This review summarizes the recent progress in the fabrication of MOF-polymer membranes including the challenges, difficulties and corresponding solutions.

A macrocyclic 1,4-bis(4-pyridylethynyl)benzene showing unique aggregation-induced emission properties

A box-like macrocycle was constructed efficiently (60% yield). Because the intramolecular rotations are restricted by water clusters around the ionic moieties, the box shows unique aggregation-induced emission enhancement property.

Controlled synthesis of mixed-valent Fe-containing metal organic frameworks for the degradation of phenol under mild conditions

The amount of Fe²⁺ in the iron-containing MOFs can be controlled by using varied ratios of n(FeCl₃)/n(FeCl₂) in the feed. The morphology of the crystal transforms from a small irregular shape to a large triangular prism.

Nucleotide/Tb³⁺ coordination polymer nanoparticles as luminescent sensor and scavenger for nitrite ion

Newly emerged metal organic coordination polymers have aroused the great interest in designing tailored functional materials. In this study, multiple functional components, luminescent Tb(3+) ion, nucleobase and antenna molecule, were integrated in a single material and prepared into a responsive nanoparticle for nitrite. The terbium coordination polymer nanoparticles made of this kind of material have the dual functions of recognition and transduction and obey a preset sensing mechanism without a post-functionalization of common materials. As the result of the tailored, the terbium coordination polymer nanoparticles are highly sensitive and selective to nitrite by means of Dexter energy transfer between Tb(3+) ion and nitrite, and can be used for the scavenger for nitrite in aqueous solution. The detection limit, dynamic range and removal capacity of U-Tb-OBBA CPNPs for nitrite are 0.3 µM, 0.3-470 µM and 4.44 mg per gram of particles, respectively. Metal organic coordination polymers show an attractive potential in constructing smart sensing materials.