Lewis acidity driven fluorochromism in a lanthanide MOF for highly selective Zr(IV) detection

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Inorganic Chemistry

Background:

• Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offer tunable properties for sensing applications.
• Selective detection of metal ions like zirconium(IV) is crucial in environmental and industrial monitoring.
• Luminescence-based sensing provides high sensitivity and selectivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel fluorochromic europium-based MOF for the selective detection of zirconium(IV) ions.
• To investigate the sensing mechanism based on luminescence changes.
• To establish the sensitivity and selectivity of the developed MOF sensor.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a fluorochromic europium-based metal-organic framework (MOF).
• Investigation of the MOF's response to various metal ions, focusing on zirconium(IV).
• Spectroscopic analysis to study luminescence changes and coordination interactions.

Main Results:

• The developed Eu-based MOF exhibits high selectivity for Zr(IV) detection.
• Competitive coordination of Zr(IV) to carboxylate sites causes framework dissociation.
• Disruption of ligand-to-metal energy transfer leads to a red-to-blue luminescence shift.
• A sensitive detection limit of 333 nM for Zr(IV) was achieved.

Conclusions:

• The novel Eu-based MOF is a promising material for sensitive and selective Zr(IV) detection.
• The luminescence shift mechanism provides a reliable basis for sensing.
• This MOF-based sensor has potential applications in relevant analytical fields.