Lanthanide‐based Metal‐organic Frameworks Offering Hydrogen Bonding Cavities: Luminescent Characteristics and Sensing Applications

This work presents the synthesis and characterization of three isomorphous lanthanide‐based metal‐organic frameworks (Ln‐MOFs) (Ln3+ = Eu (1), Tb (2), and Sm (3)) supported by a pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxamide‐based linker offering appended arylcarboxylate groups. Single crystal X‐ray diffraction studies highlight that these Ln‐MOFs present three‐dimensional porous architectures offering large cavities decorated with hydrogen bonding (H‐bonding) groups. These Ln‐MOFs display noteworthy luminescent characteristics. The use of a mixed‐metal strategy affords a series of Ln‐MOFs exhibiting color‐tunable emissions. The Eu‐MOF was utilized for the nanomolar sensing of both nitrobenzene and 4‐nitrophenol. The critical role of H‐bonding in the detection of these analytes is validated through multiple spectroscopic, ξ potential, and molecular docking studies. The Eu‐MOF illustrated notable anticounterfeiting as well as practical sensing applications.