An ultrastable porous metal–organic framework luminescent switch towards aromatic compounds

Abstract

In this work, a highly stable MOF luminescent switch {Cd₃(L)(bipy)₂·4DMA}_n (1) has been successfully constructed, which exhibits clear fluorescence enhancement and “turn-off” quenching responses for benzene and nitrobenzene vapors, respectively, with high selectivity and sensitivity, as well as being fully reusable. Remarkably, the porous MOF (1) remains intact in aqueous solution over an extensive pH range of 2–13. This MOF sensor realizes fast detection for benzene vapor with a response time of less than one minute and ∼8-fold fluorescence enhancement. Furthermore, it as a porous multifunctional MOF also shows fully reversible adsorption behaviour for benzene vapor at room temperature. Thus the MOF material will be a promising luminescent sensor and adsorbent material for benzene vapor with important practical applications from environmental and health points of view.