The Long and Bright Path of a Lanthanide MOF: From Basics towards the Application |
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| Authors: | Dr Eugenio Hernán Otal Prof Dr Hideki Tanaka Dr Manuela Leticia Kim Prof Dr Juan Paulo Hinestroza Prof Dr Mutsumi Kimura |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Chemistry and Materials, Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Ueda, 386-8567 Japan;2. Research Initiative for Supra-Materials (RISM), Shinshu University, 4–17-1 Wakasato, Nagano, 380-8553 Japan;3. Department of Fiber Science and Apparel Design, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 New York, USA |
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| Abstract: | The development of portable, reliable, and low-cost sensors for assessing the quality of natural water sources is of high relevance in developing countries as they can serve as an intermediate solution prior to the building of permanent potable water distribution infrastructure. These sensors should be simple to operate by non-trained operators and easy to manufacture locally. Lanthanide-based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) offer a trustable platform due to their intense emission in regions of the visible spectra and their high sensitivity to fluorides in water. Cotton was chosen as a substrate due to its high hydrophilicity which, together with the highly porous nature of the MOF, allows for shorter reaction times. The modified cotton was characterized by XRD, SEM as well as XAFS, hence probing the presence of Tb(BTC)6(H2O)] (Tb-BTC) attachment to cotton. Changes in the emission when Tb-BTC modified cotton was exposed to water and aqueous fluoride solutions were monitored as a function of time. Crystalline phase changes were identified that correlated to structural information. Finally, the Tb-BTC modified cotton was used to build a fluoride demonstrator sensor with a linear response of up to 10 mg L−1 and a limit of detection of 0.8 mg L−1, making it suitable for drinking water analysis under international regulations. |
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| Keywords: | chemosensors EXAFS fluoride lanthanide metal–organic framework |
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