A Two-Fold Interpenetrated Dual-Emitting Luminescent Metal–Organic Framework as a Ratiometric Sensor for Chromium(III)

A novel two-fold interpenetrated metal–organic framework, namely Co–EDDA, was synthesized by hydrothermal reaction of 5,5′-[ethane-1,2-diylbis(oxy)]diisophthalic acid (H4EDDA), Co(NO3)2·6H2O, and 1,4-di(1H-imidazol-1-yl)benzene in water in an alkaline environment and structurally characterized. Co–EDDA could display clear dual-emission signals at 350 and 430 nm, representing the charge transfer emission between metal ions and the ligand and the ligand-based emission, respectively, which represents the ratiometric luminescence response to chromium(III) with high selectivity and sensitivity (limit of detection of 0.54 μM). Comprehensive studies indicate that the detection can be attributed to the interaction between the Cr3+ ions and the O atoms on the ether bond in Co–EDDA.