A new sensor based on luminescent terbium–organic framework for detection of Fe3+ in water

A new terbium (III) coordination polymer {Tb3(μ3-HPyIDC)4(H2O)8]∙NO3∙4H2O}n, which exhibits intense green luminescence, was prepared via solvothermal reaction. Interestingly, it still gives rise to green emission when dispersed in pure water. Its sensing abilities were investigated by addition of different cations such as Fe3+, Ba2+, Zn2+, K+, Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Fe2+, Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Hg2+, and Cd2+ to water suspension of the assayed powder material. We discovered that only Fe3+ (detection limit 10− 4 M) can give rise to unique fluorescence changing from green to blue to this material. Spectroscopic analyses proved that the coordination interaction between Fe3+ ion and ligand led to this recognition process.