A Cd(II)−Tb(III) nanocluster {[Cd 10 Tb 9 L 8 (OH) 16 (OAc) 23 (H 2 O) 3 ]-[Cd 10 Tb 9 L 8 (OH) 16 (OAc) 23 (H 2 O) 4 ]}•3H 2 O ( 1), which contains two crystallographically independent components, was constructed from a tridentate ligand (HL, 3-ethoxysalicylaldehyde). It exhibits rapid and reliable excitation wavelengthdependent luminescence response to 2,6-dipicolinic acid (DPA) [limit of detection = 0.23 nM], which is not influenced by aromatic carboxylates, amino acids, and ions. The test papers of 1 can be used to check DPA in solution. The equation I Ex272nm / I Ex329nm = 0.0109 × [DPA]2 + 0.106 × [DPA] + 2.39 of 1 for the luminescence response could be used to quantitatively measure the concentration of DPA in tap water. 1 displays rapid and stable luminescence response to DPA, with the sensing times shorter than 5 s and no changes for the lanthanide luminescence over 24 h.

Two NIR luminescent Zn(II)/Cd(II)−Yb(III) complexes were obtained by the use of a Schiff base ligand with a binaphthyl backbone. Cd(II)−Yb(III) complex 2 has a triangular structure and exhibits interesting luminescent sensing activity to antibiotics, in particular to ciprofloxacin (CPFX) and norfloxacin (NFX) due to the inner filter effect. The limits of the detection of 2 to CPFX and NFX are 0.18 and 0.36 μM, respectively, and the fluorescence sensitivity is not changed with the existence of other antibiotics tested in this study.

Two Cd-Ln (Ln = Ho(III) and Eu(III)) complexes 1 and 2 were synthesized using two organic ligands. The square-like Cd6Eu2 nanocluster 2 exhibits luminescence response to DPA through the enhancement...

An interesting 48-metal Zn(II)–Yb(III) nanocluster (1) with a size of about 1.3 × 2.8 × 3.1 nm was constructed by carbonate templates from a Schiff base ligand. It exhibits ligand-centered emission and near-infrared (NIR) luminescence of Yb(III), which are used in the dual-emissive detection of rutin (Rut) with high sensitivity even in the presence of other interferences. The response behavior can be expressed by the second-order equation I 980 nm/I 510 nm = A*[Rut]2 + B*[Rut] + C, and the limits of detection to Rut for the emissions of 1 are 2.23 μM and 0.20 nM.

A near-IR-luminescent octanuclear Yb(III) complex 1 was constructed from a new dodecadentate Schiff base ligand, which is used in the rapid and reliable wavelength-dependent detection of aloe emodin (AE) with high sensitivity even in the presence of other interferences.