Biomimetic mineralization of nanoscale lanthanide metal-organic frameworks with thermo-sensitive polymer as organic ligands for solvent recognition and water detection

Highlights: • Novel nanoscale poly-LnMOFs were successfully obtained within several seconds. • The poly-LnMOFs were prepared via biomimetic mineralization approach. • The poly-LnMOFs can be used for solvent recognition and water detection. -- Abstract: Novel nanoscale lanthanide and mixed lanthanide metal-organic frameworks with thermo-sensitive polymer as organic links were successfully prepared. They were obtained through biomimetic mineralization approach. This is the first report of fabrication of polymer-metal-organic frameworks via biomimetic mineralization. The particle size was in the range from 200 to 500 nm. The photoluminescent properties of the materials have also been studied. The fluorescence intensity changed in different solvent (N, N-dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran, ethanol, acetone, dichloromethane, water), so solvent recognition can be achieved by using the polymer-metal-organic frameworks. The materials are also very sensitive to water (even trace water) in the mixed solutions composed of water and organic solvents. Especially the mixed lanthanide polymer-metal-organic frameworks can be designed to a ratiometric fluorescent nanosensor. The novel fluorescence detection materials have very important potential applications in the field of chemical industry.