Facile synthesis of a fluorescent probe based on a terbium-based metal–organic framework for selective detection of Fe(III) and Al(III)

It is critical to detect Fe3+ and Al3+ rapidly and accurately due to their high risk to humans and the ecological environment. In this work, a kind of terbium-based metal–organic framework fluorescent probe (Tb-MOF) is facilely fabricated that displays ultra-high selective detection of Fe3+ and Al3+ over various coexisting ions (i.e. Mn2+, Co2+, K+, Ca2+, Na+, Mg2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Pb2+ and Cr3+). The obtained Tb-MOF exhibits emission at 547 nm and possesses outstanding thermal, fluorescent and chemical stability. The Tb-MOF shows a ratiometric fluorescence signal for Al3+, and the detection limits for Fe3+ and Al3+ are 0.91 and 6.10 μM, respectively. Moreover, the fluorescence intensities and concentrations of Fe3+ and Al3+ have good linear relationships across wide concentration ranges. Furthermore, the quantifications of Fe3+ and Al3+ are achieved in complex tap and river water samples with good recoveries. This study offers a facile and efficient method of developing a fluorescent probe that possesses the ability to quantify Fe3+ and Al3+ in real environmental water samples.