Multi-responsive luminescent 2D Zn(II)-based coordination polymer for detection of trinitrophenol and Fe³⁺

Abstract

A new Zn(II)-based coordination polymer (CP), [Zn(HL)·1.5H₂O] (1), has been synthesized using 4-(2,4,6-tricarboxylphenyl)-3,2ˊ,6ˊ,4ˊˊ-terpyridine (H₃L). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that 1 possesses a 2D layer-like structure, which further connects through hydrogen bonding interactions to form a 3D supramolecular network. The luminescence measurements showed that 1 is capable of detecting nitro-aromatic compounds (NACs) in particular 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) as well as Fe³⁺ ions with high sensitivity and selectivity in aqueous medium. The limit of detections (LODs) for the recognition of TNP and Fe³⁺ are 1.23 and 0.94 ppm, respectively. The reason for decrease in intensity of emission of 1 on addition of NACs to it has been examined by theoretical calculations which suggested that charge transfer is taking place between 1 and NACs which may be the prime reason for the decrease in emission intensity.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Coordination polymers
• luminescence
• nitro-aromatics
• sensing
• terpyridine

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The authors acknowledge financial assistance from Sichuan University of Science and Engineering (nos. 2019RC21), the Project of Zigong Science & Technology (No. 2018YYJC01 and 2019YYJC06) and the Student's Platform for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program (cx2019013).