A novel luminescent sensor based on Tb@UiO-66 for highly detecting Sm3+ and teflubenzuron

• Tb@UiO-66 is a dual-platform chemosensor. • Tb@UiO-66 exhibited luminescence enhancement for detecting Sm 3+ and teflubenzuron. • Tb@UiO-66 could be used to detect teflubenzuron in real water samples. A novel luminescent sensor with dual-emitting platforms, Tb@UiO-66 , was used for highly detecting Sm 3+ and teflubenzuron. Tb@UiO-66 was synthesized on basis of the exchange of guest molecules, where Tb 3+ ions were encapsulated into the cages of UiO-66 . The results of multiband fluorescence originated from the linker-to-cluster charge transfer and the characteristic emission of Tb III . Tb@UiO-66 displayed luminescence enhancements or quenches according to small molecules. Especially for Sm 3+ and teflubenzuron, the characteristic peaks of Tb@UiO-66 at 490, 545, 585, and 621 nm increased with the increasing of the concentration of the analytes, where Tb@UiO-66 exhibited the effect of luminescence enhancement. The detection limits for detecting Sm 3+ and teflubenzuron were 0.09 μM and 0.21 μM, and the changes of luminescence intensities could be observed by naked eyes under the UV light at 365 nm. Tb@UiO-66 could also be used to detect teflubenzuron in real water samples. Tb@UiO-66 could be reused for at least 5 cycles for the detection of Sm 3+ and teflubenzuron with the framework of Tb@UiO-66 uncollapsed. These results implied that the integration of Ln III luminescent materials and Zr-MOFs by doping method provided a new strategy for fabricating novel luminescent sensors for detecting polluting small molecules.