Dual-Functional Luminescent Zinc-Based Metal–Organic Framework for Selective Fe3+ and L-Tryptophan Sensing and LED Applications

A luminescent anthracene-based Zn-MOF with a robust 3D framework was successfully constructed. • The Zn-MOF exhibits highly selective and sensitive dual fluorescence sensing toward Fe³⁺ and L-tryptophan in aqueous media. • The sensor achieves low detection limits of 1.51 μM (Fe 3+ ) and 2.08 μM (L-Trp), with fluorescence quenching dominated by the inner filter effect. • A blue-emitting LED device based on Zn-MOF was fabricated, demonstrating its optoelectronic application potential. In this study, a new three-dimensional Zn-MOF was designed and synthesized. The complex [Zn 2 (DCPA) 2 (tib)(H 2 O)] was successfully prepared using the linear, highly conjugated anthryl derivative ligand 9,10-di(4′-carboxyphenyl)anthracene (DCPA) and the nitrogen-based ligand 1,3,5-tri(1H-imidazol-1-yl) benzene (tib). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, powder X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed that the Zn-MOF not only possessed excellent water and thermal stability but could also serve as a highly selective fluorescent sensor for specific recognition of L-tryptophan (L-Trp) among diverse amino acids and Fe 3+ in cationic aqueous solutions. In addition, this material also showed potential application value in the field of light-emitting devices.