Strategic Design of Non-d10 Luminescent Metal-Organic Frameworks as Dual-Mode Ultrafast and Selective Sensing Platforms for Aldehydes at the ppb Level

Utilizing a cautious design of luminescent MOFs of non-d10 divalent transition metals based on two factors (metal nodes in an octahedral geometry to minimize nonradiative energy dissipation and tailored organic chromophores), this work reports {[Ni2(oxdz)2(tpbn)]}n (1), {[Ni2(oxdz)2(tphn)]}n (2), and {[Ni2(oxdz)2(tpon)]}n (3), synthesized at room temperature, varying the spacer length of tpbn/tphn/tpon (four, six, and eight CH2 groups, respectively). This subtle change in 1-3 is correlated to their hydrophobicity and polarizing power via water vapor sorption and selective and sensitive detection of aldehydes at the ppb level, respectively. A decrease in water vapor uptake (14.8, 8.95, and 3.19 mmol g-1 for 1-3, respectively) is observed with an increase in their hydrophobicity. On the other hand, the solution phase detection limits of acetaldehyde and benzaldehyde (2.42 and 6.71 ppb for 1, 2.77 and 4.08 ppb for 2, and 10.35 and 10.4 ppb for 3, respectively) show a similar trend for their polarizing power. The best performance of 1 is expanded to the vapor-phase detection of acetaldehyde (297% luminescence enhancement) under different pH conditions. The second mode of detection of acetaldehyde via the metal-centered electrochemical behavior of 1 provides detection limits of 38.2 and 71.5 ppb at pH 7 and 13, respectively.

Alginate-modified surfactants functionalized metal-organic framework-based fluorescent film sensors for detection and adsorption of volatile aldehydes in water

Volatile aldehydes have an adverse impact on both human health and the environment, therefore, a fast, straightforward, highly accurate detection technique for the simultaneous detection and removal of several aldehydes is eagerly anticipated. Herein, novel APGF@ZIF-8 and APOF@ZIF-8 sensing materials were developed by coating fluorescent alginate-modified surfactants (APGF and APOF) into the ZIF-8 MOFs to produce quite porous fluorescent sensors (SBET up to 1519 m2/g). The detection capacity of the prepared sensors for benzaldehyde, glyoxal, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde has been examined. The detection mechanism was suggested as hydrogen bonding formation between the sensors and volatile aldehydes as confirmed by Gaussian calculations. All the fluorescence spectra of aldehydes display remarkable linear detection relationships in the range of 0.05-200 μM with the limits of detection (LOD) values in the range of 0.001-0.18 μM (0.106-10.44 ppb). These sensors were utilized successfully to detect multiple volatile aldehydes in river water samples with satisfactory recoveries of 96-107 %. Interestingly, fluorescent APGF@ZIF-8/CS and APOF@ZIF-8/CS films as portable disposable removal techniques for benzaldehyde, glyoxal, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde from water were fabricated. APOF@ZIF-8/CS exhibited an excellent formaldehyde adsorption capacity of 58.30 mg/g and an adsorption removal efficiency of 93.5 %. The adsorption process of biosorbent on various aldehydes was fitted by Freundlich adsorption isotherm. The adsorption kinetics followed Pseudo-second-order kinetic model.

Aliphatic-Bridged Early Lanthanide Metal–Organic Frameworks: Topological Polymorphism and Excitation-Dependent Luminescence

Six new three-dimensional metal–organic frameworks based on early lanthanide(III) cations and trans-1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid (H2chdc) were obtained. Their crystal structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The structure of [La2(H2O)4(chdc)3]·2DMF·H2O (1; DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide) contains one-dimensional infinite La(III)-carboxylate chains interconnected by cyclohexane moieties to form a highly porous polymeric lattice with 30% solvent accessible volume. Compounds [Ln2(phen)2(chdc)3]·0.75DMF (2Ln; Ln3+ = Ce3+, Pr3+, Nd3+ and Sm3+; phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) are based on binuclear carboxylate building blocks, which are decorated by chelate phenanthroline ligands and interconnected by cyclohexane moieties to form more dense isostructural coordination frameworks with primitive cubic pcu topology. Compound [Nd2(phen)2(chdc)3]·2DMF·0.67H2O (3) is based on secondary building units similar to 2Ln and contains a coordination lattice isomeric to 2Ln with a rare hexagonal helical snz topology. Thermal stability and luminescent properties were investigated. For 2Sm, a strong and nonmonotonous dependence of the luminescence color on the variation of excitation wavelength was revealed, changing its emission from pinkish red at λex = 340 nm to white at λex = 400 nm, and then to yellow at lower excitation energies. Such nonlinear behavior was rationalized in terms of the contribution of several different luminescence mechanisms. Thus, 2Sm is a rather rare example of a highly tunable monometallic lanthanide-based luminophore with possible applications in light-emitting devices and optical data processing.

Mixed-Metal and Mixed-Ligand Lanthanide Metal-Organic Frameworks Based on 2,6-Naphthalenedicarboxylate: Thermally Activated Sensitization and White-Light Emission

Trivalent lanthanide ions (Ln³⁺) hold an exceptional position in the field of optoelectronic materials due to their atomic-like emission spectra and long luminescence lifetimes. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and coordination polymers are particularly suited as luminescent materials due to their structural diversity and ease of functionalization both at bridging ligands and/or metal centers. In this contribution, we present a series of mixed-metal Ln³⁺/Eu³⁺ (Ln = La, Gd) and mixed-ligand (2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate (ndc^2-) and 4-aminonaphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylate (andc^2-)) MOFs belonging to three different structural types, with emissions spanning most of the visible region, thereby constituting favorable materials for color tuning and white-light emission. We investigate the thermal stability and photophysical properties of the synthesized materials with regard to their metal and ligand doping levels and structural type, where we discuss excimer and monomer emission. The photophysical study, involving both steady-state and time-resolved luminescence measurements, allows us to discuss the possible energy migration and Eu³⁺ sensitization pathways that take place within these materials following ligand excitation. Low-temperature luminescence studies led us to determine the energies of the ligand-based excited states and investigate their participation in thermally activated energy transfer mechanisms within the studied lattices. We observe emission quantum yields of up to 87% for the Eu³⁺-doped materials, while their ligand- and metal-doped counterparts show decreased quantum yields of up to 17%. Finally, we attempt fine color tuning by carefully adjusting the doping levels to achieve yellow and white-light emission.

Synthesis, supramolecular isomerism, and photoluminescence of scandium(III) complexes with tetrafluoroterephthalate ligand

Here we present a new family of seven Sc(III) complexes with tetrafluoroterephthalate ligand (tFBDC2−), having non-polymeric and polymeric 2D and 3D structures. These complexes are characterized by SC XRD, PXRD,...

Fluorescent Zn(II) frameworks with multicarboxylate and pyridyl N-donor ligands for sensing specific anions and organic molecules

Three novel fluorescent Zn(II) frameworks, namely [Zn(DPA)(NDA)]2·2DMF (1), [Zn2(DPA)(OBA)2]·2DMF·4H2O (2) and [Zn(DPA)(HNTB)]·H2O (3) (DPA = 2,5-di(pyridin-4-yl)aniline, H2NDA = 1,4-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, H2OBA = 4,4'-oxydibenzoic acid, H3NTB = 4,4',4''-nitrilotribenzoic acid, DMF =...

Visible-light excitable Eu3+-induced hyaluronic acid-chitosan aggregates with heterocyclic ligands for sensitive and fast recognition of hazardous ions

Water-soluble luminescent lanthanide complexes that can be excited with visible light could enable rapid detection of toxic anions and cations in biological systems. Eu³⁺-induced hyaluronic acid-chitosan aggregates (EIHCA) can improve the stability, biocompatibility, efficiency, and light absorption of luminescent Eu³⁺ complexes. Visible-range excitation may avoid phototoxicity associated with overexposure to UV light in biological and ecological applications. In this work, we synthesized and characterized series of EIHCA complexes having three N-donor heterocyclic ligands: 2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (Dphen), 2,2': 6',2″-terpyridine (Tpy) and 1,10-phenanthroline monohydrate (Phen). These complexes possessed bright red fluorescence with a visible range excitation maximum. The photophysical properties of one formulation (we denote as EDL6) include fast quenching response (20 s) of the fluorescence, multi-selectivity, low limit of detection, and high quenching (K_sv) values, enabling selective, rapid and sensitive recognition of Cr₂O₇^2- and Fe³⁺ in aqueous solution. Furthermore, EDL6 exhibits cytocompatibility with mammalian cells that make these complexes promising biocompatible candidate as a safe replacement of organic fluorophores for fluorescence sensing applications. Thus, these new EIHCA complexes were successfully employed for the selective detection of hazardous materials in biological and aqueous environment samples.

Fluorescent sensors for aldehydes based on luminescent metal-organic frameworks

Volatile aldehydes cause great harm to human health and the living environment, and the detection of aldehydes has attracted much attention from chemists and material scientists. In recent years, as one of the most promising classes of functional materials, luminescent metal-organic frameworks (LMOFs) have bloomed as fluorescent sensors for the detection of aldehydes. Herein, the sensing properties of LMOF sensors toward formaldehyde, benzaldehyde, acetaldehyde and other aldehydes have been reviewed, and the sensing mechanism and applications are also illustrated. Additionally, the current status and its potential development prospects in this field are outlined.

Lanthanide-based molecular alloys with hydroxyterephthalate: a versatile system

Reactions in water between lanthanide chlorides and the di-sodium salt of 2-hydroxyterephthalic acid (H₂hbdc) lead to six families of lanthanide-based coordination polymers depending on the lanthanide ion and the crystal growth method.

Molecular and Polymer Ln2M2 (Ln = Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy; M = Zn, Cd) Complexes with Pentafluorobenzoate Anions: The Role of Temperature and Stacking Effects in the Structure; Magnetic and Luminescent Properties

Varying the temperature of the reaction of [{Cd(pfb)(H2O)4}+n·n(pfb)-], [Ln2(pfb)6(H2O)8]·H2O (Hpfb = pentafluorobenzoic acid), and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) in MeCN followed by crystallization resulted in the isolation of two type of products: 1D-polymers [LnCd(pfb)5(phen)]n·1.5nMeCN (Ln = Eu (I), Gd (II), Tb (III), Dy (IV)) which were isolated at 25 °C, and molecular compounds [Tb2Cd2(pfb)10(phen)2] (V) formed at 75 °C. The transition from a molecular to a polymer structure becomes possible because of intra- and intermolecular interactions between the aromatic cycles of phen and pfb from neighboring tetranuclear Ln2Cd2 fragments. Replacement of cadmium with zinc in the reaction resulted in molecular compounds Ln2Zn2 [Ln2Zn2(pfb)10(phen)2]·4MeCN (Ln = Eu (VI), Tb (VIII), Dy (IX)) and [Gd2Zn2(pfb)10(H2O)2(phen)2]·4MeCN (VII). A new molecular EuCd complex [Eu2Cd2(pfb)10(phen)4]·4MeCN (X)] was isolated from a mixture of cadmium, zinc, and europium pentafluorobenzoates (Cd:Zn:Ln = 1:1:2). Complexes II-IV, VII and IX exhibit magnetic relaxation at liquid helium temperatures in nonzero magnetic fields. Luminescent studies revealed a bright luminescence of complexes with europium(III) and terbium(III) ions.

High Luminance of Heterolanthanide-Based Molecular Alloys by Phase-Induction Strategy

Reactions in water of lanthanide chlorides with the sodium salt of 4,5-dichlorophthalate (dcpa^2-) lead to two families of isostructural coordination polymers: family F1 that gathers compounds with the general chemical formula [Ln₂(dcpa)₃(H₂O)]_∞ with Ln = La-Gd (except Pm) and family F2 that gathers compounds with general chemical formula [Ln₂(dcpa)₃(H₂O)₅·3H₂O]_∞ with Ln = Tb-Lu plus Y. Heterolanthanide molecular alloys that contain both Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ions have been prepared in both structural families. Their luminescence properties have been studied, especially from the brightness point of view. This study revealed that structural family F1 provides molecular alloys that are much more luminescent than those of structural family F2. Therefore, a phase-induction strategy was followed that allowed the design of some molecular alloys (La/Tb/Eu and La/Dy) that are, to the best of our knowledge, among the most luminescent coordination polymers reported so far. This study opens the way to bright luminescent bar codes as well as to bright white luminescent lanthanide-based coordination polymers.

Rational Design of Dual IR and Visible Highly Luminescent Light-Lanthanides-Based Coordination Polymers

A series of isostructural homo- and heterolanthanide coordination polymers of formula [Ln₂(dcpa)₃(H₂O)]_∞ with Ln = La-Gd have been obtained by reactions in water between the lightest lanthanide chlorides and the disodium salt of 4,5-dichlorophthalic acid (H₂dcpa). They present particularly high thermal stability for coordination compounds (up to 400 °C). Their luminescent properties have been studied in detail. Interestingly an insensitivity to water coordination as well as a very strong effect of optical dilution is observed. Therefore, molecular alloys with very high lanthanum concentration have been prepared. Some of them present highly tunable and very intense luminescence. For example, to the best of our knowledge, [Sm_0.04La_1.96(dcpa)₃(H₂O)]_∞ presents one of the highest overall quantum yields measured so far for a Sm³⁺-based coordination compound (Q_Sm^Ligand = 9.2%), and [Nd_0.03Sm_0.14Eu_0.03La_1.8(dcpa)₃(H₂O)]_∞ is one of the brightest (12 Cd·m^-2 under 0.75 mW·cm^-2 UV flux) multiemissive visible and near-infrared lanthanide-coordination polymers reported to date.

Atmospheric low-temperature plasma for direct post-synthetic modification of UiO-66

A low-temperature plasma-based post-synthetic modification method was developed to directly introduce the hydroxy group into UiO-66 metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). UiO-66 can be endowed with greatly enhanced fluorescence properties after plasma treatment, with which a reliable sensing platform for arsenic has been established.

Rare-earth metal–organic frameworks: from structure to applications

In the past 30 years, rare-earth metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been gaining attention owing to their diverse chemical structures, and tunable properties.

Supramolecular assembly of lanthanide-2,3,5,6-tetrafluoroterephthalic acid coordination polymers via fluorine⋯fluorine interactions: a platform for luminescent detection of Fe3+ and nitroaromatic compounds

F⋯F interactions stabilize {[Ln(TFTA)_1.5(H₂O)₂]·H₂O}_n 2D coordination polymers which selectively detect Fe³⁺ and p-nitrophenols.

Design and properties of multiple-emitter luminescent metal–organic frameworks

This feature article reviews the design strategies by which multiple different emission sources could be combined for creating multi-emitter luminescent metal–organic frameworks (LMOFs).

Hybrid luminescent alginate hydrogels containing lanthanide with potential for acetone sensing

Alginate hydrogels containing YVO₄–Eu³⁺ have been prepared by using a facile method. These luminescent hydrogels can be used as sensors to detect acetone with quick response and good reversibility.

Near-infrared-emissive metal–organic frameworks

We describe the recent progress in near-infrared-emissive metal–organic frameworks, and especially highlight their appealing applications in bio-imaging, sensing and barcoding.

The Coordination and Luminescence of the Eu(III) Complexes with the Polymers (PMMA, PVP)

The rare earth complexes and the polymers can be made into composite nanofibers through electrospinning. The fluorescence intensity of these fiber composites is much higher than that of the rare earth complexes. By changing the mixed proportion of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and complexes, nanofiber materials were prepared. Then, by measuring their fluorescence intensity, it is found that the carbonyl bond of PMMA may have coordinated with the rare earth ions and enhanced the luminescence intensity of them. Then, a series of experiments were designed to study their coordination and luminescence mechanism. The coordination mechanism of the polymers with carbonyl groups and the rare earth complexes was explained by Eu(TFT)₃(TPPO), Eu(TFT)₃(TPPO)₂, Eu(PFP)₃(TPPO), Eu(PFP)₃(TPPO)₂, and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) dissolved in chloroform solution, where TFT means 2-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-1-tetralone, PFP means 2-(2,2,3,3,3-Pentafluoropro-panoyl)-3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1(2H)-one and TPPO means phosphine oxide. The coordination of PVP and the rare earth complexes in solution was studied, and it was found that the fluorine atoms of the ligand had a significant impact on the aggregation-induced effect of the composites. The electron transitioned in the polymers and the complexes were enhanced greatly by the coordination. The colors of emission light could be adjusted by the coordination of the polymers and the rare earth complexes.

Eu3+/Tb3+ functionalized Bi-based metal–organic frameworks toward tunable white-light emission and fluorescence sensing applications

Eu³⁺/Tb³⁺ singly doped or codoped bismuth-based MOFs were developed to explore white-light emitting devices and construction of supersensitive multifunctional sensors.

Structure, color-tunable luminescence, and UV-vis/NIR benzaldehyde detection of lanthanide coordination polymers based on two fluorinated ligands

A series of 1D lanthanide coordination polymers exhibits white-light emission and detects benzaldehyde in the UV-visible and NIR region.

Syntheses, structures, luminescence and magnetic properties of seven isomorphous metal–organic frameworks based on 2,7-bis(4-benzoic acid)-N-(4-benzoic acid)carbazole

Seven isomorphous lanthanide metal–organic frameworks with special luminescence and magnetic properties are synthesized and characterized.

Anomalous thermally-activated NIR emission of ESIPT modulated Nd-complexes for optical fiber sensing devices

Highly sensitized NIR emission was modulated using an ESIPT ligand in a Nd-complex, to achieve abnormal NIR enhancement with temperature increasing from 77 to 300 K for the first time.

Metal–organic frameworks based on octafluorobiphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylate: synthesis, crystal structure, and surface functionality

Six Zn coordination polymers have been synthesized and investigated in terms of their surface properties.