Novel lanthanide nanoparticle frameworks for highly efficient photoluminescence and hypersensitive detection

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Chemistry

Background:

• Lanthanide clusters (LnCs) possess excellent luminescent properties but their suprastructures are rarely reported.
• Developing supramolecular materials with tunable luminescence remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize novel, highly luminescent suprastructures by incorporating LnCs into covalent organic frameworks (COFs).
• To explore the potential of these composite materials for sensing applications.

Main Methods:

• A two-step assembly method was employed to embed LnCs within pre-synthesized COFs.
• Rigid anchoring groups on COF nanochannel walls facilitated 1D confinement of LnCs.
• A small organic ligand was used to sensitize Ln(iii) cations during assembly.

Main Results:

• Novel luminescent LnC-based nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully confined within COF nanochannels.
• The resulting composites exhibited high quantum yields (>20%) and stable fluorescence across a wide pH range (9 units).
• The material demonstrated unambiguous discrimination of six methinehalides and ultrasensitive detection of uranyl ions.

Conclusions:

• This study presents a new class of luminescent materials based on LnC-COF composites.
• The confined LnCs within COFs offer potential for advanced sensing and light-emitting applications.