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Ratiometric fluorescence for sensitive detection of phosphate species based on mixed lanthanide metal organic framework

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Abstract

Phosphate (PO43−) plays a major role in aquatic ecosystems and biosystems. Developing a highly sensitive and selective ratiometric fluorescence probe for detection of PO43− is of great significance to the ecological environment and human health. In this work, a novel dual lanthanide metal organic framework was synthesized via hydrothermal reaction based on Tb3+ and Ce3+ as the center metal ions and terephthalic acid as the organic ligand (designated as Tb-Ce-MOFs). The fluorescence of Tb-Ce-MOFs shows emission at 375 nm. In the presence of PO43−, with increased concentration of PO43−, the fluorescence intensity of Tb-Ce-MOFs at 500 nm and 550 nm increased, while the intensity at 375 nm was reduced. Hence, ratiometric fluorescence detecting of PO43− can be achieved by measuring the ratio of fluorescence at 550 nm (FL550) to 375 nm (FL375) in the fluorescent spectra of the Tb-Ce-MOFs. In this sensing approach, the Tb-Ce-MOFs probe exhibits highly sensitive and selective for detection of PO43−. The limit of detection is calculated to be 28 nM and the detection range is 0.1 to 10 μM. In addition, the Tb-Ce-MOFs were used in the detection of PO43− in real samples.

Graphical abstract

We design and synthesize a mixed lanthanide metal organic framework fluorescence probe (Tb-Ce-MOFs) for ratiometric fluorescence for the detection of PO43− based on Tb3+ and Ce3+ as the center metal ions and terephthalic acid as the organic ligand.

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Acknowledgements

We were also grateful for the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (FDLAP19004).

Funding

This work was financially supported by the Science and Technology Research Project of Education Department of Jiangxi Province (GJJ190615) and the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province (20171ACB20025 and 20202BAB213018).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, 330013, Jiangxi, China

    Zhijian Li, Gang Liu, Congbin Fan & Shouzhi Pu

  2. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China

    Zhijian Li

  3. YuZhang Normal University, Nanchang, 330013, Jiangxi, China

    Shouzhi Pu

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  1. Zhijian Li
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Li, Z., Liu, G., Fan, C. et al. Ratiometric fluorescence for sensitive detection of phosphate species based on mixed lanthanide metal organic framework. Anal Bioanal Chem 413, 3281–3290 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-021-03264-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-021-03264-0

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