In
this work, a novel zirconium-based metal–organic framework
(MOF) composite material, UiO-(OH)2@RhB, has been solvothermally
prepared with zirconyl chloride octahydrate, 2,5-dihydroxyterephthalic
acid, and rhodamine B (RhB) for ratiometric fluorescence sensing of
Al3+ ions in an aqueous medium. The luminescence measurement
results showed that, at the single excitation wavelength of 420 nm,
the fluorescence intensity of the ligand at 500 nm increased significantly
in the case of Al3+, while that of RhB at 583 nm changed
slightly, together with an apparent color change. Under optimal conditions,
UiO-(OH)2@RhB exhibited an extraordinary sensitivity (10
nM), good selectivity, and a fast response (2 min) for Al3+. As far as we know, the limit of detection is superior to that of
the current reported MOF-based Al3+ fluorescence sensors.
The response mechanism suggested that −OH could capture Al3+ in water through coordination and high electrostatic affinity
and achieved turn-on ratiometric fluorescence through the excited-state
intramolecular proton transfer process and stable fluorescence of
RhB. In addition, this sensor was also applied to actual food samples
(grain beans), with the recoveries ranging from 89.08% to 113.61%.
Such a turn-on ratiometric fluorescence sensor will provide a constructive
strategy for the ultrasensitive detection of Al3+ in practical
applications.