Sensitizing, sensing and chemical separation of Tb(III) ions: All in a novel T copper metal-organic framework

Abstract

The importance of rare earth elements in high-tech materials has promoted the necessity to develop new materials for sensing and separating them. Luminescent metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) due to their promising applications as functional materials for chemical sensing and separation, which upon introducing analytes create multi-responsive systems, have been receiving great attention by scientists. In this regard, we have designed and synthesized a novel three-dimensional copper framework, [Cu2(3,4-pydc)2(H2O)5]n.2nH2O (1; 3,4-H2pydc = 3,4-pyridine dicarboxylic acid), in ambient condition with an interesting topology and potential application as a cation exchange material. Upon Tb3+ ions uptake, compound 1 exhibited the antenna effect to sensitize Tb3+ ions and its fluorescent emission was enhanced. It also showed selective sensing ability based on turn-on fluorescence response towards Tb3+ ions, in a mixture of main and transition metal ions and Tb3+ ions. Furthermore, the results showed that the Tb3+ ion exchange process is reversible. Therefore, compound 1 is a promising multifunctional luminescent MOF for simultaneous sensing and chemical separation of Tb3+ ions which is an advantage over the previously used MOFs in this regard. Furthermore, the reusability experiment demonstrated that 1 can be utilized for long-term detection and separation of Tb3+ ions.