A Nanoscale Multiresponsive Luminescent Sensor Based on a Terbium(III) Metal-Organic Framework

A nanoscale terbium-containing metal-organic framework (nTbL), with a layer-like structure and [H2NMe2](+) cations located in the framework channels, was synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. The structure of the as-prepared sample was systematically confirmed by powder XRD and elemental analysis; the morphology was characterized by field-emission SEM and TEM. The photoluminescence studies revealed that rod-like nTbL exhibited bright-green emission, corresponding to (D4FJ)-D-5-F-7 (J=6-3) transitions of the Tb3+ ion under excitation. Further sensing measurements revealed that as-prepared nTbL could be utilized as a multiresponsive luminescent sensor, which showed significant and exclusive detection ability for Fe3+ ions and phenylmethanol. These results highlight the practical applications of lanthanide-containing metal-organic frameworks as fluorescent probes.