A rapid and accurate fluorescent sensor array based on lanthanide metal-organic framework for identification and determination of perfluorinated compounds

• Published in: Talanta (Oxford) Vol. 280; p. 126764
• Main Authors: Zhang, Renguo, Yu, Xueling, Sun, Yining, Su, Chenglin, Wang, Tong, Yu, Jie, Niu, Na, Chen, Ligang, Ding, Lan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.12.2024
• Subjects: Differential sensing; Fluorescent sensor arrays; Lanthanide metal-organic framework; Pattern recognition methods; Perfluorinated compounds; Lanthanide metal-organic framework; Pattern recognition methods; Perfluorinated compounds; Differential sensing; Fluorescent sensor arrays
• ISSN: 0039-9140; 1873-3573; 1873-3573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2024.126764

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), as an important class of environmental pollutants, have chemical and structural similarities that make their detection a great technical challenge. This study synthesized three species of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) using different lanthanide metal ions or organic ligands, which were integrated into a fluorescent sensor array. This innovative approach offers a straightforward, rapid, and precise detection strategy for PFCs. Different ionization properties and fluorinated hydrophobic tails of PFCs lead to different electrostatic attraction and hydrophobic effects between PFCs and sensing elements, which become the basis for differential sensing. Furthermore, the fluorescence signal is more convenient to collect, making the sensor array simple to complete the identification. Combined with pattern recognition methods, the array successfully identified seven kinds of PFCs and mixtures with a classification accuracy of 100 % and a detection limit as low as 51 nM. Finally, the utility of the sensor array in river water sample analysis was verified. The strategy provides an effective method for identifying and determining PFCs and offers new opportunities for developing sensor arrays based on lanthanide MOFs. Schematic illustration of the identification of PFCs by the Ln-MOFs sensor array. [Display omitted] •A novel lanthanide fluorescent sensor array was constructed.•The platform showed excellent performance in identifying perfluorinated compounds.•The proposed array can be used for the detection of real water samples.•The mechanism was compared from the perspectives of sensing elements and targets.