Synthesis and real-time monitoring of the morphological evolution of luminescent Eu(TCPP) MOFs

General synthesis of covalent organic frameworks under ambient condition within minutes via microplasma electrochemistry approach

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are typically synthesized using solvothermal conditions with high temperature and long reaction time (≥120 °C, >72 h). Herein, we report a general and rapid microplasma electrochemistry strategy to synthesize COFs under ambient conditions. A series of flexible imine-bond COFs with high-crystallinity were prepared in minutes via this method, which showed 1000-fold higher space-time yield than solvothermal method. This approach also achieved the preparation of COFs with diverse linkages including rigid imine, hydrazone, β-ketoenamies and azine linkages. Moreover, four types of imine-based COFs were successfully synthesized in aqueous acetic acid, which avoided the use of harmful organic solvents, indicating that microplasma method is green and versatile for COF synthesis. The obtained COFs showed higher surface area and exhibited superior performance in volatile iodine uptake compared to those COFs prepared by solvothermal method. After screening more than ten types of COFs, the iodine adsorption capacity could be promoted from 2.81 to 6.52 g g-1. The efficiency, versatility, and simplicity of the microplasma method render it as a promising approach for the swift screening of COFs across a wide range of applications.

Tunable Multicolor in Heterojunction Ln(BTB) Fast Prepared by Liquid Plasma with In Situ Spectral Monitoring for Anticounterfeiting Application

Lanthanide metal-organic frameworks (Ln-MOFs) represent a promising class of multicolor luminescence nanomaterials with broad application prospects. However, the fabrication of high-quality, tunable multicolor Ln-MOFs for optical applications remains highly challenging due to the lack of suitable processing methods. In this work, an integrated device was introduced that used dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) liquid plasma for synthesis, which was coupled with in situ spectral monitoring, enabling the fabrication of multicolor heterojunction Ln-MOFs. This approach facilitates precise multicolor control from red, orange-red, yellow, and pale-green to green by adjusting the Tb3+-to-Eu3+ ratio based on real-time spectral data. The heterojunction architecture effectively suppresses undesired direct Tb3+-to-Eu3+ energy transfer, which commonly occurs in mixed-metal structures. The fabricated heterojunction Ln-MOFs were characterized by using X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and photoluminescence techniques. The application studies demonstrated that these multicolor heterojunction Ln-MOFs hold significant promise for the development of anticounterfeiting materials across a wide range of applications.

The design, synthesis and application of metal-organic framework-based fluorescence sensors

Fluorescence-based chemical sensors have garnered significant attention due to their rapid response, high sensitivity, cost-effectiveness and ease of operation. Recently, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been extensively utilized as platforms for constructing fluorescence sensors, owing to their ultra-high porosity, flexible tunability, and excellent luminescent properties. This feature article summarizes the progress made mainly by our research group in recent years in the construction strategies, principles, and types of MOF sensors, as well as their applications in quantitative sensing, qualitative identification analysis, and multimodal/multifunctional analysis. In addition, the challenges and an outlook on the future progression of MOF-based sensors are discussed, highlighting how these studies can contribute to addressing these issues. Hopefully, this feature article can provide some valuable guidance for the construction and application of MOFs in fluorescence sensing, thereby broadening their practical applications.

Nanozyme-Enhanced Electrochemical Biosensors: Mechanisms and Applications

Nanozymes, as innovative materials, have demonstrated remarkable potential in the field of electrochemical biosensors. This article provides an overview of the mechanisms and extensive practical applications of nanozymes in electrochemical biosensors. First, the definition and characteristics of nanozymes are introduced, emphasizing their significant role in constructing efficient sensors. Subsequently, several common categories of nanozyme materials are delved into, including metal-based, carbon-based, metal-organic framework, and layered double hydroxide nanostructures, discussing their applications in electrochemical biosensors. Regarding their mechanisms, two key roles of nanozymes are particularly focused in electrochemical biosensors: selective enhancement and signal amplification, which crucially support the enhancement of sensor performance. In terms of practical applications, the widespread use of nanozyme-based electrochemical biosensors are showcased in various domains. From detecting biomolecules, pollutants, nucleic acids, proteins, to cells, providing robust means for high-sensitivity detection. Furthermore, insights into the future development of nanozyme-based electrochemical biosensors is provided, encompassing improvements and optimizations of nanozyme materials, innovative sensor design and integration, and the expansion of application fields through interdisciplinary collaboration. In conclusion, this article systematically presents the mechanisms and applications of nanozymes in electrochemical biosensors, offering valuable references and prospects for research and development in this field.

Solvent modulation of the morphology of homochiral gadolinium coordination polymers and its impact on circularly polarized luminescence

Studying the effect of morphology on the circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) of chiral molecular materials is important for the development of CPL-active materials for applications. Herein, we report that the morphology of Gd(NO3)3/R-,S-AnempH2 [AnempH2 = (1-anthrylethylamino)methylphosphonic acid] assemblies can be controlled by solvent modulation to form spiral bundles Gd(R-,S-AnempH)3·2H2O (R-,S-1), crystals Gd(R-,S-AnempH)3·2H2O (R-,S-2) and spindle-shaped particles Gd(R-,S-AnempH)3·3H2O·0.5DMF (R-,S-3) with similar chain structures. Interestingly, R-,S-1 are CPL active and show the highest value of dissymmetric factor among the three pairs of enantiomers (|glum| = 2.1 × 10-3), which is 2.8 times larger than that of R-,S-2, while R-,S-3 are CPL inactive with |glum| ≈ 0. This work provides a new route to control the morphology of chiral coordination polymers and improve their CPL performance.