A pyrene-based hydrogen-bonded framework with excimer induced ratiometric emission for discriminative luminescence detection of metal ions

• Published in: Microporous and mesoporous materials Vol. 381; p. 113348
• Main Authors: Shen, Penglei, Xu, Hui, Zhao, Tao, Zhang, Wei, Bai, Gongxun, Alshahrani, Thamraa, Chen, Banglin, Gao, Junkuo, Xu, Shiqing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.01.2025
• Subjects: Discriminative sensing; Excimer; Fluorescence sensor; Hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs); Metal ions; Fluorescence sensor; Discriminative sensing; Hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs); Excimer; Metal ions
• ISSN: 1387-1811
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micromeso.2024.113348

Discriminatory fluorescence detection of various metal ions is of significant importance in environmental and health-related applications. A luminescent hydrogen-bonded organic framework (HOF) material, PFC-1 was synthesized using 1,3,6,8-tetra(4-carboxylbenzene) pyrene (H4TBAPy) as the organic building block. The fluorescence behavior of PFC-1 is influenced by the concentration of the suspension, demonstrating different emissions characteristic of monomer and excimer fluorescence, which are highly sensitive to the surrounding environment. This allows for the potential differentiation and sensing of different target analytes. PFC-1 showed discriminatory fluorescence sensing performance towards metal ions such as Al3+, Sc3+, Cr3+, and Cu2+, with changes in fluorescence intensity, emission peak shifts, and intensity ratio changes between monomer and excimer emissions. Furthermore, a smartphone-based detection strategy was proposed, leveraging color recognition capabilities of smartphones for onsite and real-time sensing. The work demonstrate that PFC-1 is a promising material for the development of portable, cost-effective fluorescent sensors for onsite and real-time detection of metal ions. The integration of PFC-1 with smartphone technology paves the way for practical applications in environmental monitoring, industrial processes, and healthcare diagnostics. Discriminatory fluorescence detection of different metal ions is realized by a luminescent HOF PFC-1 with different emissions characteristic of monomer and excimer fluorescence, which are highly sensitive to the metal ions Fe3+, Al3+, Sc3+, Cr3+, and Cu2+. [Display omitted] •A luminescent HOF material PFC-1 was constructed and showed monomer and excimer fluorescence behavior.•PFC-1 showed discriminatory fluorescence sensing performance towards different metal ions.•A smartphone-based detection strategy was realized for onsite and real-time sensing.