Dual-Functional UiO-Type Metal-Organic Frameworks for the Sensitive Sensing and Effective Removal of Nitrofurans from Water

Abstract Herein, a dual-functional platform for simultaneous detection and removal of Nitrofurans (NFs), a class of widely used antibiotics, from aqueous solution is developed on the basis of water-stable luminescent UiO-Type Metal-Organic Frameworks (Zr-fcu-sti). Specifically, Zr-fcu-sti responds to NFs at parts per billion (ppb) levels based on the efficient luminescence quenching and is one of the most sensitive luminescent MOF-based sensing materials. The efficient luminescence quenching can be explained by a combined effect of the strong absorption of NFs at the excitation wavelength and the photo-induced electron transfer process from the ligand of Zr-fcu-sti to NFs. In addition, NFs can obviously cause the red shift of the probe's maximum emission, which can be used as an indicator for the qualitative detection of NFs, clearly distinguishing them from other types of antibiotics. Meanwhile, its suitable pore size, large surface areas and the widely distributed hydrogen bonding sites on pore surfaces endow the MOF with excellent uptake capacity toward NFs in aqueous environment. These results show that, as a water-stable dual-functional material with great application prospects, Zr-fcu-sti can achieve high-sensitivity fluorescence sensing and efficient adsorption of NFs from water.