Unfolding the Role of Building Units of MOFs with Mechanistic Insight towards Selective Metal Ions Detection in Water

Abstract

The role of the organic building units of MOFs towards selective detection of a targeted metal cation (Fe3+) has been demonstrated by systematic screening by varying the number of Lewis basic (pyridyl-N atoms) sites in a series of isostructural metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). All three fluorescent MOFs are seen to present a quenching response towards Fe3+ ions in water; however, only UiO-67@N exhibits highly selective and sensitive response, whereas the emission of both UiO-67 and UiO-67@NN is quenched by several metal ions. More information can be found in the Research Article by S. K. Ghosh et al. (DOI: 10.1002/chem.202104175).