An excellently stable TbIII–organic framework with outstanding stability as a rapid, reversible, and multi-responsive luminescent sensor in water

Abstract

An excellently stable Tb^III–organic framework, [TbL·2H₂O]_n (complex 1), has been successfully synthesized through an assembly process. By virtue of its excellent water stability and strong green luminescence, complex 1 has been considered and applied as a reversible multi-responsive luminescent sensor for Fe³⁺, Cr₂O₇²⁻, and nitrofurantoin (NFT) aqueous solutions. Complex 1 not only exhibits outstanding detection effects with high selectivity and sensitivity, but also shows remarkable cycling and regeneration abilities. The K_sv values of complex 1 for Fe³⁺, Cr₂O₇²⁻, and NFT are 2.27 × 10⁴, 2.31 × 10⁴, and 5.26 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ in water systems, respectively. More importantly, complex 1 can accurately monitor NFT in real bovine serum samples via luminescence quenching detection.