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Uranyl phosphonates: crystalline materials and nanosheets for temperature sensing
Ge-Hua Wen1, Xiu-Mei Chen2, Kui Xu1
1State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China. baososo@nju.edu.cn.
Dalton Transactions (Cambridge, England : 2003)
|November 15, 2021
Summary
Two new luminescent uranyl phosphonate nanosheets were synthesized and show temperature-dependent photoluminescence. These materials can function as thermometers across specific temperature ranges, with potential applications in temperature sensing.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Inorganic Chemistry
Background:
- Ultrathin nanosheets of luminescent metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and coordination polymers are established sensors for ions, solvents, and biomolecules.
- The application of these materials for temperature sensing remains largely unexplored.
- Uranyl phosphonates represent a class of materials with potential luminescent properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize novel luminescent uranyl phosphonate compounds.
- To investigate the potential of these compounds, particularly in nanosheet form, for temperature sensing applications.
- To explore the influence of incorporating nanosheets into a polymer matrix on their temperature-sensing capabilities.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of two uranyl phosphonate compounds: (UO2)(2-pmbH2)2 (1) and (H3O)[(UO2)2(2-pmb)(2-pmbH)] (2), using 2-(phosphonomethyl)benzoic acid (2-pmbH3).
- Exfoliation of bulk compounds into ultrathin nanosheets using a top-down freeze-thaw method in acetone.
- Variable temperature photoluminescence (PL) studies to assess temperature sensitivity.
- Preparation of polymer composites (1-ns@PMMA and 2-ns@PMMA) by doping nanosheets into a polymer matrix.
Main Results:
- Two uranyl phosphonate compounds with distinct layered and 2D anionic framework structures were successfully synthesized.
- Both compounds were exfoliated into two-layer-thick nanosheets.
- Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited temperature-sensitive photoluminescence, enabling their use as thermometers in the ranges 120-300 K and 100-280 K, respectively.
- The polymer composite 2-ns@PMMA retained temperature-sensing capabilities (100-280 K), while 1-ns@PMMA showed insensitive PL intensity.
Conclusions:
- Novel luminescent uranyl phosphonate nanosheets demonstrate significant temperature sensitivity.
- These materials show promise as thermometers, particularly compound 2 and its polymer composite, within specific temperature ranges.
- The study highlights the potential of uranyl phosphonate nanosheets in developing new temperature-sensing technologies.
