Metal-organic coordination polymer-derived carbon nanotubes: Preparation and application in detecting small molecules

Abstract Two new isostructural metal-organic coordination polymers (MOCPs) based on the bis-pyridyl-bis-amide ligand and thiophene dicarboxylic acid, namely [Cd(3-dpaa)0.5(2,5-TDC)(H2O)2] (1) and [Zn(3-dpaa)0.5(2,5-TDC)(H2O)2] (2) (3-dpaa = N,N′-di(3-pyridyl)adipoamide and 2,5-H2TDC = 2,5-thiophenedicarboxylic acid), have been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. The fluorescent sensing behaviors of complex 2 have been studied. Moreover, complex 2 was used as a combined catalyst precursor to synthesize multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The decomposition of ethylene in the presence of the Zn-MOCP by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method at 650 °C led to successful obtain as-grown MWCNT products. Interestingly, the as-grown MWCNTs exhibit significant fluorescent sensing activities towards xylene and nitrobenzene.