A Host-Guest Uranium-Based Luminescent MOF for the Sensitive Recognition of Acetone in Water

Given the high difficulty and poor controllability associated with the direct synthesis of uranium-based metal-organic frameworks (U-MOFs), this study took an alternative approach by utilizing a host-guest chemistry strategy to construct novel uranium-based luminescent materials. A uranyl-functionalized metal-organic framework was synthesized by introducing uranyl ions (UO₂²⁺) into the channels of a stable MOF host via a solution impregnation method. Characterization results demonstrated that the as-prepared material fully retained the host framework structure while exhibiting the characteristic luminescence of uranyl and displaying excellent water stability. Luminescence sensing experiments demonstrated the exceptional selectivity and sensitivity of MOF-76(Y)@U toward acetone in aqueous solutions, achieving a directly measured limit of detection (LOD) of 6.75 × 10^-6 mol/L via luminescence spectroscopy upon the addition of trace acetone. This study not only provides a facile and efficient approach for the synthesis of novel uranium-based luminescent metal-organic frameworks, but also offers a practical and feasible new method for the low-cost, highly sensitive detection of acetone.