Facile fabrication of Tb3+-functionalized COF mixed-matrix membrane as a highly sensitive platform for the sequential detection of oxolinic acid and nitrobenzene.

Abstract A novel Tb3+-functionalized covalent organic framework-based polymer mixed-matrix membrane (Tb3+@COF MMM) has been successfully fabricated by incorporating the highly stable Tb3+@PI-COF as filler into polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) solution. Compared with pure COF membrane, MMM exhibits its good flexibility, processability and high detection sensitivity. The obtained Tb3+@COF-MMM (M) can be employed as a highly sensitive sensing platform for the sequential detection of oxolinic acid (OA) and nitrobenzene (NB) based on a “off-on-off” process. M has performed its great selectivity, high sensitivity, and low detection limit for detecting OA with “turn-on” mechanism. Moreover, owing to the good chemical stability and anti-interference of M sensor, it is prospective to efficiently detect residues of OA in serum or river water. After the detection of M-15 toward OA, the obtained fluorescent M-15/OA exhibits the rapid quenching, facile manipulation, cycling utility and low detection limits for sensing NB solution and vapor. This work has proposed a typical case of developing flexible Ln3+-functionalized COF-based polymer mixed-matrix membrane as a highly sensitive sensing platform for detecting OA and NB, simultaneously revealed the applied potentiality of M for monitoring animal health and environmental pollution.