A luminescent Tb(III)-MOF based on pyridine-3, 5-dicarboxylic acid for detection of nitroaromatic explosives

•A terbium-metal-organic framework has been constructed by Tb3+ ions and pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylic acid.•Compound 1 exhibits a 3D porous (3,4)-connected (33·45·56·6) topological framework with 1D open rhombic channels.•The luminescence study of Tb-MOF suggests that it is a promising material with sensing nitroaromatic explosives.

A new luminescent terbium-based metal-organic framework [Tb2(PDC)2(SO4)(H2O)6]·2H2O (1) (H2PDC = pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylic acid), has been successfully synthesized under solvothermal condition. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that compound 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic C2/c space group and exhibits a 3D porous (3,4)-connected (33·45·56·6) topological framework based on two-dimensional (2D) [Ln(PDC)]+ layers and SO42 − pillars. Moreover, the luminescent property shows that compound 1 displays intense green luminescence of the typical Tb3 + ion emission. The quenching effects for aromatic organic solvents make it potential application as fluorescent sensor for nitroaromatic explosives.

Graphical abstractA new three-dimensional Tb-MOF [Tb2(PDC)2(SO4)(H2O)6]·2H2O based on pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylic acid ligand has synthesized. The luminescence study suggests that it is a promising material with sensing nitroaromatic explosives.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide