A luminescent europium metal–organic framework with free phenanthroline sites for highly selective and sensitive sensing of Cu2 + in aqueous solution

• A luminescent Eu-MOF with free phenanthroline N sites was synthesized.
• Its high stability in water is very important for the practical application.
• It exhibits highly sensitive and selective sensing of Cu2 + ion in aqueous solution.
• The mechanism of the sensing properties was studied in detail.

A luminescent europium metal–organic framework [Eu(HL)(L)(H2O)2]·2H2O (1) (H2L = (2,3-f)-pyrazino(1,10)phenanthroline-2,3-dicarboxylic acid) with uncoordinated phenanthroline nitrogen sites was hydrothermally synthesized. It exhibits highly sensitive and selective sensing of Cu2 + in aqueous solution. To the best of our knowledge, complex 1 is the first luminescent Eu-MOF with uncoordinated phenanthroline nitrogen sites for selective sensing of Cu2 + in aqueous solution. The probable sensing mechanism was discussed in detail.

A luminescent Eu-MOF with uncoordinated phenanthroline nitrogen sites was hydrothermally synthesized. It exhibits highly sensitive and selective sensing of Cu2 + in aqueous solution.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide