Recognition of an Explosive and Mutagenic Water Pollutant, 2,4,6‐Trinitrophenol, by Cost‐Effective Luminescent MOFs

Two luminescent MOFs, Zn‐NDC and Cd‐NDC (NDC = 2,6‐naphthalenedicarboxylate), which are capable of sensing 2,4,6‐trinitrophenol (TNP) and similar explosives and mutagens, are reported. Of these two MOFs, Zn‐NDC shows better response in sensing nitroaromatics like TNP and 4‐nitrobenzoic acid (4‐NBA). Compared to Zn‐NDC, Cd‐NDC is more selective in the detection of explosive and pollutant nitroaromatics (epNACs). Cd‐NDC is a selective TNP sensor over several other tested epNACs: 2,6‐dinitrotoluene (2,6‐DNT), nitrobenzene (NB), 4‐NBA, 1,3‐dinitrobenzene (1,3‐DNB), 3,4‐dinitrotoluene (3,4‐DNT), and 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene (TNT). For both d10‐NDC MOFs, TNP sensitivity is supported by fluorescence quenching. The experiments have been carried out with deionized water as well as various other environmental water specimens collected from several parts of West Bengal, India. Spectroscopic results are further supported by theoretical DFT calculations.