A highly sensitive fluorescent nickel-based coordination polymer for Nitrofuran antibiotics detection in real water...

Nitrofuran antibiotics (NFAs) residues in aquatic environments pose significant threats to both ecosystems and public health. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to develop an accurate and effective technology to detect these specific pollutants. Herein, a novel Ni-CP, [Ni(H₂edda)(H₂O)₂(Tripp)₂]_n (XYNU-3), has been rationally designed and constructed from 5,5'-(ethane-1,2-diylbis(oxy)) diisophthalic acid (H₄edda), 2,4,6-tris(4-pyridyl)pyridine (Tripp) and NiSO₄·6H₂O, using hydrothermal method under a mixed-ligand strategy. Structural analysis indicates that XYNU-3 features a three-dimensional supramolecular architecture stabilized by hydrogen bonding interactions. Moreover, XYNU-3 exhibits exceptional chemical stability in different pH solutions and impressive thermal stability. Interestingly, fluorescence sensing experiments demonstrate that XYNU-3 could function as a fluorescent sensor toward nitrofurantoin (NFT) and nitrofurazone (NFZ) with high selectivity and sensitivity. Meanwhile, the well-maintained excellent sensing performance in Shihe River water renders its potential practical application in real water samples. Furthermore, detailed mechanism investigations, integrating experimental studies with density functional theory (DFT) calculations, suggest that the fluorescent quenching response of XYNU-3 toward NFAs could be attributed to a synergistic effect involving inner filter effect (IFE), fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and photoinduced electron transfer (PET). Importantly, this research might shed light on the advancement of designing luminescent coordination polymer (LCP)-based fluorescent platforms, enabling convenient and efficient environmental antibiotic pollution monitoring.