Fabrication of nanosheets of a fluorescent metal–organic framework [Zn(BDC)(H2O)]n (BDC = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate): Ultrasonic synthesis and sensing of ethylamine

A supramolecular metal–organic framework (MOF) constructed by two-dimensional (2D) infinite coordination polymers, [Zn(BDC)(H2O)]n (1, BDC = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate), was synthesized by the reaction of zinc acetate with H2BDC in dimethylformamide (DMF) under ultrasonic irradiation at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure. Yield of 1 varied from 43.4% to 53.2% for the reaction time of 10–90 min. Samples with different morphologies, i.e. nanobelts, nanosheets, and microcrystals, were obtained under ultrasound irradiation for different reaction times. Fluorescence emission of nanosheets of [Zn(BDC)(H2O)]n was found to be highly sensitive to ethylamine, and solid state fluorescence intensity decreased with increasing contents of ethylamine in acetonitrile solution due to weak fluorescence quenching effect.