Detection Enhancement of One Multifunctional Cd-Metal–Organic Framework toward Tetracycline Antibiotics by Simply Mixing Eu³⁺ in Suspension

Abstract

It is necessary to find more simple methods to improve the detection selectivity and sensitivity of antibiotics. Herein, we constructed a novel three-dimensional (3D) Cd-MOF LCU-117 assembled from p -terphenyl-4,2″,5″,4′-tetracarboxylic acid, which showed a special 3D helical structure with carboxylic acid ligands and nitrogen-containing ligands crossing each other vertically. Luminescence measurements indicated that LCU-117 has high selectivity and sensitivity toward Eu 3+ through the ratiometric effect. Meanwhile, this complex itself could detect antibiotics oxytetracycline (OTC) through the turn-off mechanism. When Eu 3+ was added in suspensions of LCU-117 (noted as Eu 3+ @LCU-117 ), the detection toward OTC was enhanced significantly and visually. The sensing mechanism was investigated in detail by various measurements and theoretical calculations. LCU-117 has a good effect on the logic gate, potential fingerprint detection, and mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs). The practical application for monitoring OTC in water samples also provided a satisfactory result.