A semiconductor and fluorescence dual-mode room-temperature ammonia sensor achieved by decorating hydroquinone into a metal–organic framework

Abstract

Presented herein is a magnesium–organic framework (SNNU-88) incorporated with active hydroquinone groups, which exhibits not only remarkable semiconductor sensing for traces of ammonia vapor (5–100 ppm), but also extra-high fluorescence response to liquid NH₃·H₂O through an unusual turn-off (0–1.5 ppm) and turn-on (3.0–100 ppm) luminescence sensing mechanism at room temperature. Such bifunctional quantitative ammonia detection together with the extraordinary sensitivity and selectivity, fast response, and good reusability makes SNNU-88 one of the most powerful ammonia sensors.