2D Cd(II)-lanthanide(III) heterometallic-organic frameworks based on metalloligands for tunable luminescence and highly selective, sensitive, and recyclable detection of nitrobenzene.

In this work, five novel 2D isostructural Cd(II)-lanthanide(III) heterometallic-organic frameworks [CdCl(L)Eu(x)Tb(y)(H2O)(DMA)](NO3)·3DMA (IFMC-36-Eu(x)Tb(y): x = 1, y = 0, IFMC-36-Eu; x = 0.6, y = 0.4, IFMC-36-Eu(0.6)Tb(0.4); x = 0.5, y = 0.5, IFMC-36-Eu(0.5)Tb(0.5); x = 0.4, y = 0.6, IFMC-36-Eu(0.4)Tb(0.6); x = 0, y = 1, IFMC-36-Tb; H3L is 4,4',4″-((2,2',2″-(nitrilotris(methylene))tris(1H-benzo[d]imidazole-2,1-diyl))tris(methylene))tribenzoic acid; IFMC = Institute of Functional Material Chemistry) have been successfully synthesized by taking advantage of different molar ratios of lanthanide(III) (Ln(III)) and metalloligands under solvothermal conditions. Further luminescent measurements indicate that IFMC-36-Eu(x)Tb(y) exhibits characteristic sharp emission bands of Eu(III) and Tb(III), and the intensities of red and green can be modulated correspondingly by tuning the ratios of Eu(III) and Tb(III). Particularly, the solvent-dependent luminescent behavior of IFMC-36-Eu shows a potential application in detection of small-molecule pollutant nitrobenzene by significant fluorescence quenching. Furthermore, IFMC-36-Eu displays preeminent anti-interference ability and could be used for sensing in the systems with complicated components. This is the first time that a d-f heterometallic-organic framework can be investigated as a chemical sensor for selective, sensitive, and recyclable detection of nitrobenzene.