Acid-base Vapor Sensing Enabled by ESIPT-attributed Cd(II) Coordination Polymer with Switchable Luminescence

Fluorescence materials based on excited state intramolecular proton transfer(ESIPT) have attracted great attention due to the unique four-level energy states. Herein, we report the assembly of a Cd-LF coordination polymer from purposely designed LF(H2hpi2cf) ligand, which can present switchable luminescence behavior by gain or loss protons originated in uncoordinated ESIPT sites and serve as acid-base vapor sensors. Fabricated into in-situ grown film or transparent ink by simple methods, Cd-LF presents facile and portable amine sensor for food spoilage detection and fluorescent anti-counterfeiting ink applications.