Ratiometric fluorescence turn-off probe for highly selective recognition of 2-pentanone based on a Eu3+- functionalized MOF

Here, a Eu3+-functionalized UiO-66 was employed as a probe for the purpose of detecting 2-pentanone. Remarkably, the Eu/Zr-UiO-66 demonstrated a clear “turn-off” response to 2-pentanone with a high degree of selectivity and reusability. The ratio of photoluminescence intensity (I617/I355) in ethanol displayed a linear decrease with increasing 2-pentanone concentration within the range of 0–90 ppm. The present study reports the limit of detection (LOD) for 2-pentanone as 2.51 ppm, which is the first instance of a self-calibrating photoluminescence probe for 2-pentanone utilizing the bimetallic metal–organic framework. Furthermore, FRET was responsible for the fluorescence quenching of 2-pentanone. The sensor system exhibits notable advantages such as facile preparation, high selectivity and excellent repeatability, thereby offering a convenient and reliable means of detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in routine applications.