Two Stable Bifunctional Zinc Metal–Organic Frameworks with Luminescence Detection of Antibiotics and Proton Conduction

Functionalized crystalline solids based on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) enable efficient luminescence detection and high proton conductivity, making them crucial in the realms of environmental monitoring and clean energy. Here, two structurally and functionally distinct zinc-based MOFs, [Zn(TTDPa)(bodca)]·H2O (1) and [Zn(TTDPb)(bodca)]·H2O (2), were successfully designed and synthesized using 3,6-di(pyridin-4-yl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophene (TTDPa) and 2,5-di(pyridin-4-yl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophene (TTDPb) as ligands, in the presence of bicyclo[2.2.2]octane-1,4-dicarboxylic acid (H2bodca). Both 1 and 2 display a three-dimensional (3D) structure with 5-fold interpenetration, and notably, 2 forms a larger one-dimensional pore measuring 17.16 × 10.81 Å2 in size. Fluorescence experiments demonstrate that 1 and 2 can function as luminescent sensors for nitrofurantoin (NFT) and nitrofurazone (NFZ) with low detection limits, remarkable selectivity, and good recyclability. A comprehensive analysis was conducted to investigate the differing sensing effects of compounds 1 and 2 and to explore potential sensing mechanisms. Additionally, at 328 K and 98% relative humidity, 1 and 2 exhibit proton conductivity values of 2.13 × 10-3 and 4.91 × 10-3 S cm-1, respectively, making them suitable proton-conducting materials. Hence, the integration of luminescent sensing and proton conductivity in monophasic 3D Zn-MOFs holds significant potential for application in intelligent multitasking devices.