A Series of Multifunctional Metal-Organic Frameworks Showing Excellent Luminescent Sensing, Sensitization, and Adsorbent Abilities

• Published in: Chemistry : a European journal 2015-08, Vol.21 (32), p.11475-11482
• Main Authors: Yi, Fei-Yan, Li, Jian-Ping, Wu, Dai, Sun, Zhong-Ming
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorbents; adsorption; Aqueous solutions; Benzene; Chemistry; Construction; Dyes; host-guest systems; Ions; Materials selection; Media; Metal-organic frameworks; Metalorganic compounds; Optical properties; Pollutants; Pollution detection; sensitizers; Sensors
• ISSN: 0947-6539; 1521-3765
• DOI: 10.1002/chem.201500595

A series of highly luminescent‐active metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) 1–3 with hierarchical pores have been rationally constructed and fully characterized. The predesigned semi‐rigid hexacarboxylate ligand hexa[4‐(carboxyphenyl)oxamethyl]‐3‐oxapentane acid (H6L) has been adapted with various space‐directed N donors (i.e., 2,2’‐bipyridine, 4,4′‐di(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)‐1,1′‐biphenyl, and 1,3,5‐tri(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene) from a bidentate V‐shape to a tridentate Y‐shape. This family of multifunctional MOF materials represents a variety of potential applications in the following aspects: first, as luminescent sensors that show a fast and sensitive detection for pollutant CrO42− and Cr2O72− ions in aqueous media; second, as adsorbents that can rapidly remove harmful organic dyes; third, as an antenna that can effectively sensitize visible‐light‐emitting Tb3+ ions. These multifunctional MOF materials combine optical‐sensing, adsorption, and sensitization properties, thus are very useful in many potential applications. Furthermore, these materials have proved to be reusable. All in one: A series of multifunctional cadmium metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) has been rationally constructed that combines sensor properties for the excellent detection of pollutant CrO42− and Cr2O72− ions, sensitizer properties for the effective and selective sensitization of the visible‐emitting Tb3+ ion in aqueous media, and absorbent abilities for the fast removal of the methylene blue (MB) dye. Furthermore, these MOF materials are recyclable (see figure).