Surfactant-assisted facile synthesis of fluorescent zinc benzenedicarboxylate metal-organic framework nanorods with enhanced nitrobenzene explosives detection

Zinc benzenedicarboxylate (Zn-BDC, BDC = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate) nanorods were synthesized via a novel cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactant-assisted technique and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and fluorescent sensing of nitrobenzene, respectively. The XRD analysis reveals that the products obtained with or without CTAB surfactant are both crystalline Zn-BDC MOF with a 2D layered structure. SEM images show that, in the presence of CTAB surfactant, Zn-BDC MOF nanosheets formed initially and were then transformed into Zn-BDC MOF nanorods with the increase of the reaction time. In contrast, micro-sized particles of Zn-BDC MOF with irregular shape formed in the absence of CTAB surfactant. It was found that Zn-BDC MOF nanorods exhibit superior nitrobenzene sensing properties over its counter part: micro-sized particles.

Graphical abstractThe present work describes a surfactant-assisted synthesis of nanoscale metal-organic framework (NMOF), and fluorescent sensing of nitrobenzene. The results suggest that the presence of the surfactant is crucial to the formation of NMOF with uniform size and shape, and significant quenching of fluorescent NMOFs may be monitored to detect nitroaromatic explosives.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Zn-BDC MOF (BDC = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate) nanorods were readily synthesized via a CTAB surfactant assisted methodology. ► CTAB surfactant plays an essential role in the formation of Zn-BDC MOF nanorods, while has no effect on its phase formation. ► Zn-BDC nanorods exhibit superior nitrobenzene sensing properties over its counter micro-scaled crystals obtained without the presence of CTAB surfactant.