Two anthracene-based metal–organic frameworks for highly effective photodegradation and luminescent detection in water

Abstract

In this work, guided by the molecular building blocks (MBBs) strategy, an anthracene-based linear organic ligand 4,4′-(9,10-anthracenediyl)dibenzoic acid (H₂ADBA) is selected to synthesize two MOFs [(CH₃)₂NH₂]₂[Eu₆(OH)₈(ADBA)₆(H₂O)₆]·(DMF)₁₅ (Eu-ADBA) and [In₃O(ADBA)₃(H₂O)₃](NO₃)·(H₂O)₆ (In-ADBA) by a solvothermal reaction using a modulator method. Eu-ADBA and In-ADBA which have hexanuclear 12-connected and trinuclear 6-connected MBBs exhibit classic fcu and acs topologies, respectively, and possess high thermostability and water-stability. Eu-ADBA performs broadly visible light absorption and highly photocatalytic activity. Photodegradation of antibiotics (tetracycline) and organic dyes (rhodamine B and methylene blue) in water is performed, and the pore effect is further investigated. In-ADBA exhibits excellent fluorescence detective properties for antibiotics (nitrofurazone and nitrofurantoin) and nitroaromatics (2,4,6-trinitrophenol, 2,4-dinitrophenol and 4-nitrophenol) in water by the quenching effect. This work presents the introduction of the anthracene group into classical topological frameworks and reveals highly effective photocatalytic and detective capabilities.