A Y-doped metal-organic framework-based cataluminescence gas sensor for isobutanol

In the present work, Y-doped metal-organic framework-5 (MOF-5) was synthesized by a simple solvothermal method and characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements, and firstly used as gas sensor materials based on cataluminescence (CTL). When isobutanol passed through the surface of the material, CTL emission was observed. The luminescence characteristics and optimal parameters were investigated in detail. Under the optimized conditions, the present gas sensor exhibited a linear range of 6.4-80.1 mg L−1 toward isobutanol and with a limit of detection of 3.7 mg L−1. The designed CTL sensor based on Y-doped MOF-5 shows no or weak sensing performance for foreign common volatile organic compounds. Moreover, compared with pure MOF-5, Y-doped MOF-5 exhibited a better CTL response to isobutanol under the same conditions. This work exploits a new application domain of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs).