Bioinspired 3D Hierarchical UiO-66-NH2 Nanoparticle/γ-AlO(OH) Nanowire for Simultaneous Detection and Removal of Fluoride Ions

Excessive fluorine can cause a serious threat to human health. It is significant but challenging to develop a straightforward and rapid way to simultaneously detect and remove excess F– from water. Herein, we presented a three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical UiO-66-NH2 nanoparticle/γ-AlO(OH) nanowire hybrid synthesized by a facile biotemplate route for simultaneous detection and removal of F– from water. We elaborately assembled two kinds of materials in a bioinspired 3D hierarchical structure as a functional unit to achieve detection and removal of dual functions. The outer UiO-66-NH2 nanoparticles served as a fluorescent sensor to detect and capture F– via a strong fluorescence enhancement effect caused by the electron transfer from F– and γ-AlO(OH) and acted as the capture unit of F–. The inner γ-AlO(OH) nanowire layer served as a F– absorbent through ion exchange between F– and γ-AlO(OH). The resulting UiO-66-NH2 nanoparticle/γ-AlO(OH) nanowire hybrid displayed excellent selectivity and sensitivity for F– detection (the detection range was 0–5 mM and the limit of detection was as low as 0.77 μM) and high capacity for F– removal (the maximum equilibrium adsorption capacity qmax was as high as 87.0 mg g–1). This dual-function material provided a strategy for simultaneously selective sensing and efficient removal of anionic pollutants from water.