Functional groups assisted-photoinduced electron transfer-mediated highly fluorescent metal-organic framework quantum dot composite for selective detection of mercury (II) in water

Construction of eco-friendly dual carbon dots ratiometric fluorescence probe for highly selective and efficient sensing mercury ion

In present work, blue carbon dots (b-CDs) were derived from ammonium citrate and guanidine hydrochloride, and red carbon dots (r-CDs) were stemmed from malonate, ethylenediamine and meso‑tetra (4-carboxyphenyl) porphin based on facile hydrothermal method. Eco-friendly ratiometric fluorescence probe was innovatively constructed to effectively measure Hg2+ utilizing b-CDs and r-CDs. The developed probe displayed two typical emission peaks at 450 nm from b-CDs and 650 nm from r-CDs under the excitation at 360 nm. Mercury ion has strong quenching effect on the fluorescence intensity at 450 nm due to the electron transfer process and the fluorescence change at 450 nm was used as the response signal, whereas the fluorescence intensity at 650 nm kept unchangeable which resulted from the chemical inertness between Hg2+ and r-CDs, serving as the reference signal in the sensing system. Under optimal circumstances, this probe exhibited an excellent linearity between the fluorescence response values of ΔF450/F650 and Hg2+ concentrations over range of 0.01-10 µmol/L, and the limit of detection was down to 5.3 nmol/L. Furthermore, this probe was successfully employed for sensing Hg2+ in practical environmental water samples with satisfied recoveries of 98.5%-105.0%. The constructed ratiometric fluorescent probe provided a rapid, environmental-friendly, reliable, and efficient platform for measuring trace Hg2+ in environmental field.

Semiconducting polymer dots for multifunctional integrated nanomedicine carriers

The expansion applications of semiconducting polymer dots (Pdots) among optical nanomaterial field have long posed a challenge for researchers, promoting their intelligent application in multifunctional nano-imaging systems and integrated nanomedicine carriers for diagnosis and treatment. Despite notable progress, several inadequacies still persist in the field of Pdots, including the development of simplified near-infrared (NIR) optical nanoprobes, elucidation of their inherent biological behavior, and integration of information processing and nanotechnology into biomedical applications. This review aims to comprehensively elucidate the current status of Pdots as a classical nanophotonic material by discussing its advantages and limitations in terms of biocompatibility, adaptability to microenvironments in vivo, etc. Multifunctional integration and surface chemistry play crucial roles in realizing the intelligent application of Pdots. Information visualization based on their optical and physicochemical properties is pivotal for achieving detection, sensing, and labeling probes. Therefore, we have refined the underlying mechanisms and constructed multiple comprehensive original mechanism summaries to establish a benchmark. Additionally, we have explored the cross-linking interactions between Pdots and nanomedicine, potential yet complete biological metabolic pathways, future research directions, and innovative solutions for integrating diagnosis and treatment strategies. This review presents the possible expectations and valuable insights for advancing Pdots, specifically from chemical, medical, and photophysical practitioners' standpoints.

Low-dimensional nanostructures for monolithic 3D-integrated flexible and stretchable electronics

Flexible/stretchable electronics, which are characterized by their ultrathin design, lightweight structure, and excellent mechanical robustness and conformability, have garnered significant attention due to their unprecedented potential in healthcare, advanced robotics, and human-machine interface technologies. An increasing number of low-dimensional nanostructures with exceptional mechanical, electronic, and/or optical properties are being developed for flexible/stretchable electronics to fulfill the functional and application requirements of information sensing, processing, and interactive loops. Compared to the traditional single-layer format, which has a restricted design space, a monolithic three-dimensional (M3D) integrated device architecture offers greater flexibility and stretchability for electronic devices, achieving a high-level of integration to accommodate the state-of-the-art design targets, such as skin-comfort, miniaturization, and multi-functionality. Low-dimensional nanostructures possess small size, unique characteristics, flexible/elastic adaptability, and effective vertical stacking capability, boosting the advancement of M3D-integrated flexible/stretchable systems. In this review, we provide a summary of the typical low-dimensional nanostructures found in semiconductor, interconnect, and substrate materials, and discuss the design rules of flexible/stretchable devices for intelligent sensing and data processing. Furthermore, artificial sensory systems in 3D integration have been reviewed, highlighting the advancements in flexible/stretchable electronics that are deployed with high-density, energy-efficiency, and multi-functionalities. Finally, we discuss the technical challenges and advanced methodologies involved in the design and optimization of low-dimensional nanostructures, to achieve monolithic 3D-integrated flexible/stretchable multi-sensory systems.

Highly Luminescent Eu3+-Incorporated Zr-MOFs as Fluorescence Sensors for Detection of Hazardous Organic Compounds in Water and Fruit Samples

Considering the risk of toxic organic compounds to both human health and the environment, highly luminescent Eu3+-incorporated amino-functionalized zirconium metal-organic frameworks, namely, Eu/MOF and Eu@MOF were synthesized via the solvothermal method. The synthesized luminescent europium-incorporated MOFs act as outstanding sensor materials for diphenylamine and dinitrobenzene detection in water and fruit samples. The synergistic effect of Eu3+ metal ions and amino-functionalized MOFs enhances the luminescent properties of the MOFs improving the fluorescence sensing ability toward the analytes. The enhancement in the detection capacity of the Eu3+-incorporated sensors than the sole MOF toward toxic organic compounds was confirmed using the Stern-Volmer equation of limit of detection (LOD) measurements along with fluorescence lifetime measurements. The sensors exhibited turn-on fluorometric detection toward their respective analytes due to the inner filter effect. The plausible fluorescence sensing mechanism has been studied. The DFT calculations have been integrated to study the structure, stability, and charge transfer processes.

Tuning the mechanical properties of sol-gel monolithic metal-organic frameworks by ligand engineering

The sol-gel monolithic MOFs has come to prominent attention for industrial application owing to the higher powder packing density, enhanced processabilities and mechanical stabilities compared to the powder counterpart. The mechanical properties are particularly important during machine shaping processing because of porous framework structure. We used ligand engineering to design and synthesize monoUiO-66-type materials modified different chemical functional groups (-NH2, -2OH, -2COOH) by sol-gel method, with the aim to assess the impact of different functional groups on the mechanical properties of these monolithic materials based on nanoindentation technology. We observe larger mass and sterically bulky functional groups (-2COOH) can significantly decrease the BET areas and pore volume of monoUiO-66 through N2 adsorption isotherms at 77 K. Hence, the two -COOH groups modified monoUiO-66 tends to exhibit the higher H of 0.589 ± 0.018 GPa and E of 15.471 ± 0.250 GPa compared with monoUiO-66 modified with -NH2 (0.334 ± 0.009 GPa/11.959 ± 0.243 GPa) and -2OH (0.331 ± 0.008 GPa/10.251 ± 0.142 GPa) groups. The creep indentation tests and the jump indentation tests further demonstrate the modification by larger functional groups -COOH on monoUiO-66 could resist irreversible plastic deformation. Furthermore, the monoUiO-66-(COOH)2 has significantly smaller the activation volume of 0.34 ∼ 0.43 nm3, highlighting the introduction of -COOH groups reduced the pore volume and restrict the number of pores involved in one collapse event. Our results demonstrate the larger mass and sterically bulky functional groups have significant influence on the mechanical properties of the monoMOFs materials.

A Tb3+ ion encapsulated anionic indium-organic framework as logical probe for distinguishing quenching Fe3+ and Cu2+ ions

We successfully synthesized a stable anionic microporous metal-organic framework (MOF) HDU-1 ([Me2NH2]2In2[(TATAB)4(DMF)4](DMF)4(H2O)4) and constructed a fluorescent probe Tb@HDU-1 by an exchange strategy. Because of its suspension distinct fluorescent response of Tb(III) characteristic transition and ligand emission, the Tb@HDU-1 can be used as fluorescent probe for sensing towards Fe3+ and Cu2+ ions. It is surprising that Tb@HDU-1 is used as a ratiometric fluorescent probe for Cu2+ ions while only single peak detection for Fe3+ ions, which describes a particular rare example of a sensor based on Ln-MOFs to distinguish quenching Fe3+ and Cu2+ ions. Hence we designed a molecular logic gate device for making the distinction of Fe3+ and Cu2+ ions more clearly and appropriately. In addition, the different quenching effect between Fe3+ and Cu2+ ions may be ascribed to the differences of competitive absorption and interaction between frameworks and metal ions.

A novel electrochemical sensing method based on an amino-functionalized MXene for the rapid and selective detection of Hg2

Mercury is a highly toxic element that is widely present in all types of environmental media and can accumulate in living organisms. Prolonged exposure to high levels of mercury can lead to brain damage and death, so the detection of mercury is of great importance. In this study, a cost-effective and easy-to-operate electrochemical sensing method was successfully developed based on an amino-functionalized titanium-based MXene (NH2-Ti3C2Tx) for the rapid and selective detection of Hg2+ that could have a coordination effect with the -NH2 group of NH2-Ti3C2Tx to promote the efficient accumulation of Hg2+. In this strategy, the NH2-Ti3C2Tx was first modified on glassy carbon electrodes (GCE) to fabricate the electrochemical sensor. Benefiting from the excellent electrical conductivity, abundant active sites, and strong adsorption capacity performance of the NH2-Ti3C2Tx, the NH2-Ti3C2Tx modified GCE (NH2-Ti3C2Tx/GCE) exhibited satisfactory selectivity and enhanced square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) measurement for the rapid detection of trace amounts of Hg2+ in aqueous solutions. The electrochemical sensor was found to be capable of detecting Hg2+ with a low detection limit of 8.27 nmol L-1 and a linear range of 0.5 μmol L-1 to 50 μmol L-1. The response time of the electrochemical sensing method was 308 s. In addition, the electrochemical sensing method has good selectivity, repeatability and stability, and multiple heavy metal ions have no effect on its detection, with repeatability and stability RSDs of 1.68% and 1.43%, respectively. Furthermore, the analysis of practical water samples demonstrated that the developed method was highly practical for the actual determination of Hg2+ with recoveries in the range of 99.22-101.90%.

Humidity Sensors Based on Metal-Organic Frameworks

Humidity sensors are important in industrial fields and human activities. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and their derivatives are a class of promising humidity-sensing materials with the characteristics of a large specific surface area, high porosity, modifiable frameworks, and high stability. The drawbacks of MOFs, such as poor film formation, low electrical conductivity, and limited hydrophilicity, have been gradually overcome with the development of material science. Currently, it is moving towards a critical development stage of MOF-based humidity sensors from usability to ease of use, of which great challenges remain unsolved. In order to better understand the related challenges and point out the direction for the future development of MOF-based humidity sensors, we reviewed the development of such sensors based on related published work, focusing on six primary types (impedance, capacitive, resistive, fluorescent, quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), and others) and analyzed the sensing mechanism, material design, and sensing performance involved, and presented our thoughts on the possible future research directions.