Multi-wavelength luminescent sensor by lanthanide complex doped amino-clay for visual ofloxacin detection

Fluoroquinolone antibiotic residues, ofloxacin (OFX) have aroused more attention because of their serious influence on surface water and food area, which seriously affect human health. Herein, a visible and high-performance sensor method for detecting OFX is fabricated successfully by co-assembling bimetallic Ln³⁺ (Eu³⁺/Tb³⁺) and amino-clay named Eu₁Tb₉(BZ)@AC. By changing the ultraviolet excitation wavelength, the sensor displayed high sensitivity and low detection limit to OFX in different modes of detection OFX, which are ratiometric luminescent sensor and turn-on luminescent sensor approaches. The luminescent response mechanisms of the sensor toward ofloxacin are further investigated, which is exploited to build an anticounterfeiting platform by doping the sensor into PVA. This work provides a new direction for the preparation of multifunctional materials based on the co-assembly of lanthanide complexes with luminescent nano clay and offers a new platform in the fields of antibiotic detection and anti-counterfeiting.