An exceptionally stable luminescent cadmium(II) metal–organic framework as a dual-functional chemosensor for detecting Cr(VI) anions and nitro-containing antibiotics in aqueous media

Based on four kinds of binuclear cadmium–carboxyl SBUs and two independent cadmium cations, a robust metal–organic framework, with the formula {[Cd₁₀(DDB)₄(bpz)₈(DMA)(H₂O)_8.2]·2H₂O}_n (1), was successfully fabricated under solvothermal conditions. Benefitting from the excellent moisture susceptibility as well as luminescence property, 1 exhibits highly sensitive detectability as a dual-response chemosensor for Cr(VI) anions and broad-spectrum nitro-containing antibiotics in aqueous media through luminescence quenching, with excellent recyclability and low detection limits. Moreover, the fluorescence recognition mechanisms were explored from both internal filter effect (IFE) and photo-induced electron transfer (PET) viewpoints.