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.