Dual-emission MOF⊃dye sensor for ratiometric fluorescence recognition of RDX and detection of a broad class of nitro-compounds

• Published in: Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability Vol. 6; no. 19; pp. 9183 - 9191
• Main Authors: Fu, Hong-Ru, Yan, Li-Bing, Wu, Nai-Teng, Ma, Lu-Fang, Zang, Shuang-Quan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Royal Society of Chemistry 2018
• Subjects: Aliphatic compounds; Antibiotics; aqueous solutions; Electron transfer; Emission; Energy transfer; Fluorescence; Fluorescence resonance energy transfer; ion exchange; nitrates; nitroaromatic compounds; RDX; vapors; zinc
• ISSN: 2050-7488; 2050-7496; 2050-7496
• DOI: 10.1039/c8ta02857e

Through an ion exchange method, the composite 1⊃HPTS was prepared via the introduction of HPTS (8-hydroxy-1,3,6-pyrenetrisulfonicacid trisodium salt) into the channels of the compound [Zn(TIPA)(NO 3 − ) 2 (H 2 O)]·5H 2 O ( 1 ). 1⊃HPTS exhibits durable dual-emission performance of both blue and yellow-green emission, and could act as a two-signal platform in aqueous solution. 1⊃HPTS exhibits ultrahigh sensitive response to a wide range of nitro-compounds, including nitroaromatics, aliphatic nitro-explosives and nitro-containing antibiotics. Particularly, 1⊃HPTS displays ratiometric fluorescence response against RDX. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first MOF-based probe with such an effect for the identification of RDX among luminescent materials. Moreover, the film based on the 1⊃HPTS sample shows high sensitivity towards 4-TNP vapor with good reusability. We also demonstrated that the detection of nitro-compounds using 1⊃HPTS predominantly involved photo-induced electron transfer and fluorescence resonance energy transfer. A dual-emitting MOF-based sensor 1⊃HPTS was prepared through encapsulating the dye HPTS via an ion-exchange approach. 1⊃HPTS exhibits a broad response to nitro compounds including nitroaromatic explosives, aliphatic nitro-explosives and nitro-containing antibiotics.