Highly Fluorescent Metal–Organic Frameworks Based on a Benzene-Cored Tetraphenylethene Derivative with the Ability To Detect 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol in Water

Abstract

One tetracarboxylate functionalized benzene-cored tetraphenylethene derivative was designed as a linker for construction of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) active metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), which exhibit the distinct AIE behavior. Two two-dimensional MOFs materials, MOF-1 and MOF-2, have been successfully synthesized by using the organic linker precursor. Photophysical studies reveal that both MOFs exhibit remarkable fluorescent properties with the absolute quantum yield as high as 43%. The high PL efficiency, good water stability, as well as the electron-donating nature of prepared MOF materials, allow us to explore their potentials in sensing applications for electron-deficient nitro explosives in aqueous media. Especially, water-stable MOF-2 exhibits superior sensitivity and selectivity toward 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) over other selected nitro analytes, including nitromethane, 2,3-dimethyl-dinitrobutane, nitrobenzene, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, 2,6-dinitrotoluene, 2,4-dinitrotoluene, 1,3-dinitro...