Selective Sensing of Fe(3+) and Al(3+) Ions and Detection of 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol by a Water-Stable Terbium-Based Metal-Organic Framework.

A water-stable luminescent terbium-based metal-organic framework (MOF), {[Tb(L1 )1.5 (H2 O)]⋅3 H2 O}n (Tb-MOF), with rod-shaped secondary building units (SBUs) and honeycomb-type tubular channels has been synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The high green emission intensity and the microporous nature of the Tb-MOF indicate that it can potentially be used as a luminescent sensor. In this work, we show that Tb-MOF can selectively sense Fe(3+) and Al(3+) ions from mixed metal ions in water through different detection mechanisms. In addition, it also exhibits high sensitivity for 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) in the presence of other nitro aromatic compounds in aqueous solution by luminescence quenching experiments.