Amino-functionalized Cu metal–organic framework nanosheets as fluorescent probes for detecting TNP

Here, we report a simple and benign method to successfully fabricate amino-functionalized Cu metal–organic framework (NH2–Cu-MOF) nanosheets. After synthesizing Cu2O nanocubes, they were mixed with organic ligand 2-aminoterephthalic acid (NH2BDC) solution at room temperature for 4 hours to form NH2–Cu-MOF nanosheets. Interestingly, the prepared NH2–Cu-MOF nanosheets have ultra-thin thickness, directional growth characteristics and excellent crystallinity. Moreover, such nanosheets showed high-intensity and high-stability fluorescence emission under excitation. As TNP in water can quench the fluorescence emission of the fluorescent probe, the NH2–Cu-MOF nanosheet fluorescent probe was established for detecting TNP in water with high sensitivity and selectivity, which is very useful for assessing the environmental quality and safety of water bodies. Finally, the probe was used to detect TNP in actual samples with good recovery rate.