Amino-functionalized Cu metal-organic framework nanosheets as fluorescent probes for detecting TNP

Here, we report a simple and benign method to successfully fabricate amino-functionalized Cu metal-organic framework (NH₂-Cu-MOF) nanosheets. After synthesizing Cu₂O nanocubes, they were mixed with organic ligand 2-aminoterephthalic acid (NH₂BDC) solution at room temperature for 4 hours to form NH₂-Cu-MOF nanosheets. Interestingly, the prepared NH₂-Cu-MOF nanosheets have ultra-thin thickness, directional growth characteristics and excellent crystallinity. Moreover, such nanosheets showed high-intensity and high-stability fluorescence emission under excitation. As TNP in water can quench the fluorescence emission of the fluorescent probe, the NH₂-Cu-MOF nanosheet fluorescent probe was established for detecting TNP in water with high sensitivity and selectivity, which is very useful for assessing the environmental quality and safety of water bodies. Finally, the probe was used to detect TNP in actual samples with good recovery rate.