Exploiting a new europium(III) coordination polymer based on a zwitterionic ligand as a fluorescent probe for uranyl cations

Two new isostructural lanthanide(III) coordination polymers based on an unreported zwitterionic ligand, namely, [Ln(ox)(L)] n (ox = oxalate, HL = N,N'-dipropionic acid imidazolium, Ln = Eu or La), are synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis. The fluorescence properties of the europium coordination polymer are investigated. In addition, the europium-based coordination polymer is utilized for specific sensing of UO 2 2+ ions, showing high selectivity, a fast response time (8 min) and high sensitivity with noticeable quenching ( Ksv = 6.19 × 10 4 M −1 ) and limit of detection of 1.95 µM.