Three multi-responsive luminescent Zn-CPs for the detection of antibiotics/cations/anions in aqueous media.

Development of luminescent coordination polymers (LCPs) for effective detection of the environmental pollutants is urgent and important for human health and environmental protection. Three novel Zn-LCPs, {[Zn1(L)(4,4′-bbibp)]–[Zn2(L)(4,4′-bbibp)]}n [YMUN6 (for Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities)], [Zn(L)(1,4-bimb)]n (YMUN7), and [Zn(L)(4,4′-bidpe)]n (YMUN8), were fabricated from flexible dicarboxylic acid 1,3-bis(4′-carboxylphenoxy)benzene (H2L) and different imidazole ligands [4,4′-bbibp = 4,4′-bis(benzimidazol-1-yl)biphenyl, 1,4-bimb = 1,4-bis(imidazol-1ylmethyl)benzene, 4,4′-bidpe = 4,4′-bis(imidazolyl)diphenyl ether] using solvothermal conditions. They were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared (IR), thermogravimetric (TG), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopic techniques. YMUN6 possessed the "ABAB" interpenetrating 2D complanate structure. YMUN7 showed a three-interpenetrating 2D network. YMUN8 displayed a hcb 3-connected 3-fold interpenetrated 2D network. Photoluminescent properties of YMUN6–8 were investigated, and 6–8 served as "turn off" sensors that could detect chlortetracycline (Chl), Ag+, and Cr2O72− in an aqueous solution with simultaneous high efficiency and sensitivity. Notably, the investigation of Ag+ sensing was most focused on lanthanide metal LCPs, and Zn-LCPs have rarely been reported in this direction. Furthermore, selectivity and recyclability were also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]