Selective and sensitive recognition of Fe3+ ion by a Lewis basic functionalized chemically stable metal-organic framework (MOF)

Abstract

A pyridyl-functionalized metal-organic framework (namely, UiO-66@N) with excellent chemical stability has been employed as a fluorescent sensor for the selective and sensitive detection of Fe3+ ion. UiO-66@N has been found to maintain its superior fluorogenic selectivity for Fe3+ ion over the other competitive metal ions. The uncoordinated nitrogen atoms-rich porous surface of UiO-66@N has been noticed to act as a Lewis basic probe for selective recognition of Fe3+ ion. In addition, UiO-66@N has shown its potential to detect Fe3+ ion even in the presence of other concurrent analytes. Furthermore, low limit of detection and high quenching constant of the UiO-66@N has verified the efficiency of the probe as a sensor of Fe3+ ion.