A fluorescent 1,4-bib-pillared Zn-MOF sensor for highly sensitive detection of Dy3+, nitrobenzene and aniline in aqueous solution

Highlights: • A luminous Zn-MOF based on a flexible 3-(3,5-dicarboxylato benzyloxy) benzoic acid and a long N-donor ligand. • The excellent fluorescent properties of Zn-MOFs in solid state or in aqueous solution. • Highly sensitively detection for Dy³⁺, and to nitrobenzene and aniline as well in aqueous solution. A luminous Zn-MOF(1), formulated as [Zn₂ (3-DBB) (1,4-bib)_1.5 (Ac)]·H₂O (3-H₃DBB=3-(3,5-dicarboxylato benzyloxy) benzoic acid and 1,4-bib=1,4-bis (1-imidazoly)benzene) has been prepared hydrothermally. Structural analysis shows that Zn ions linked by 3-DBB^3- into 2D brick-wall-like double layer-like structure, further assembling 3D framework by 1,4-bib pillared ligands. The Zn-MOF has been discovered to selectively detect Dy³⁺ by the luminescent enhancement with the detection limit (LOD) of 1.16×10⁻⁵M, and is highly selective and sensitive to nitrobenzene (LOD:1.40×10⁻⁶M) and aniline (LOD:2.03×10⁻⁷M) as well. The theoretical calculation and absorption spectra results verify the correctness of organic solvents detection. Therefore, the material might be used as a multi-response luminescent sensor.