Ratio fluorescence detection of tetracycline by a Eu3+/NH2-MIL-53(Al) composite

Tetracycline detection has been a great concern because of its overuse and difficulty in degrading. Here, a detection method with ratio fluorescence was developed by synthesizing Eu3+ doped nanocomposites with NH2-MIL-53(Al) nanosheets. After adding tetracycline, the fluorescence intensity at 616 nm characteristic emission peak of Eu3+ was sensitized by the antenna effect generated from coordinating Eu3+ with tetracycline, but the fluorescence of NH2-MIL-53(Al) at 433 nm was quenched by the fluorescence resonance energy transfer between the Eu3+-tetracycline composition and NH2-MIL-53(Al). Therefore, the efficient detection of tetracycline was achieved based on this change of ratio fluorescence signal. The experimental results show that Eu3+/NH2-MIL-53(Al) has excellent selectivity, a wider linear range and a lower detection limit for detecting tetracycline. This method can afford favorable ideas for developing advanced chemical and biological sensors.