Issue 14, 2019

Detection of adsorbates on emissive MOF surfaces with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Abstract

Luminescent metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been explored extensively as potential probes for nitroaromatic molecules, which are common constituents of explosive devices. Guest encapsulation within MOF pores is often cited as the prerequisite for emission changes, but the evidence for this signal transduction mechanism is often inadequate. Using the unique bipyridyl ligand AzoAEpP (2,2′-bis[N,N′-(4-pyridyl)ethyl]diaminoazobenzene), we constructed two luminescent pillared paddle-wheel Zn2+ MOFs using aryl dicarboxylate ligands 1,4-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid (ABMOF-1) and benzene 1,4-dicarboxylic acid (ABMOF-2). While both MOFs exhibit luminescence, 2,4-dinitrophenol only extinguishes ABMOF-1 emission. Since the size of the pores in ABMOF-1 precludes guest inclusion, we used X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to confirm the surface interaction and obtain insight into the nature of the quenching process. XPS experiments utilized a fluorinated nitroaromatic molecule, 4-trifluoromethyl-2,6-dinitrophenol, that extinguishes ABMOF-1 emission, and verified surface adsorption through a series of angle-resolved (ARXPS) and argon-ion sputter depth profile experiments. By further developing these techniques, we hope to develop a general approach for distinguishing between the various intermolecular interactions between MOFs and analytes that lead to changes in luminescence.

Graphical abstract: Detection of adsorbates on emissive MOF surfaces with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
05 Nov 2018
Accepted
02 Mar 2019
First published
04 Mar 2019

Dalton Trans., 2019,48, 4520-4529

Detection of adsorbates on emissive MOF surfaces with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

J. Yan, A. D. Carl, A. R. Maag, J. C. MacDonald, P. Müller, R. L. Grimm and S. C. Burdette, Dalton Trans., 2019, 48, 4520 DOI: 10.1039/C8DT04404J

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements