Visual detection of tetracycline antibiotics with the turned on fluorescence induced by a metal-organic coordination polymer

► Zn(bix) coordination polymer was exploited to detect TCs with great sensitivity. ► The fluorescence of TCs was turned on by Zn(bix) coordination polymer. ► This fluorimetric method was simple and fast without complicated synthesis. ► TCs could be visually detected with naked eyes under 365 nm UV lamp light.