A novel microporous Tb-MOF fluorescent sensor for highly selective and sensitive detection of picric acid

A new three-dimensional metal-organic framework (MOF) sensor with molecular formula (C₂H₆NH₂)₂[Tb₂(ptptc)₂(DMF)(H₂O)]·DMF·6H₂O (complex 1) has been constructed from terphenyl-3,3',5,5'-tetracarboxylic acid (H₄ptptc) and terbium nitrate under solvothermal conditions. The structure of complex 1 was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, and the purity was further confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis. XRD analysis reveals that complex 1 crystallizes in a triclinic system P1̄ space group and consists of a three-dimensional anionic network which has one-dimensional channels. Fluorescence titration experiments showed that complex 1 displayed real-time, highly selective and sensitive fluorescence quenching behavior towards picric acid with a nanomolar scale experimental detection limit (100 nM). Recycling titration experiments suggested that the as-synthesized probe has good reversibility and can be used for at least five cycles in fluorescence titration experiments without obvious fluorescence intensity reduction or framework structure destruction. Furthermore, the high selectivity and sensitivity as well as good recyclability of complex 1 make it a potential fluorescent sensor for picric acid.