A Robust Zn-based Coordination Polymer for Ultra-sensitive and Selective Detection of Trace 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol and Fe3+ in Aqueous Solution

doi:10.1007/s40242-026-5285-z

Chemical Research in Chinese Universities ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (3): 918-926.doi: 10.1007/s40242-026-5285-z

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A Robust Zn-based Coordination Polymer for Ultra-sensitive and Selective Detection of Trace 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol and Fe³⁺ in Aqueous Solution

HU Guang¹, ZHANG Nanxi², LI Xiangyu¹, ZHAO Liyan¹, ZHANG Xiao¹, LI Xin¹, ZHOU Xinyi¹, LIU Weidong³, WANG Liting⁴, LI Bing¹, ZHANG Wang Zixi¹, LÜ Minghang¹

1. State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150080, P. R. China;
2. School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150080, P. R. China;
3. School of Economics and Management, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150080, P. R. China;
4. School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150080, P. R. China

Received:2025-12-01 Accepted:2025-12-19 Published:2026-06-02
Contact: ZHANG Xiao,E-mail:zhangx@hit.edu.cn;LI Xin,E-mail:lixin@hit.edu.cn E-mail:zhangx@hit.edu.cn;lixin@hit.edu.cn
Supported by:
This work was supported by the Project of the State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment (Harbin Institute of Technology), China (No. 2022TS19).

Abstract

Abstract: A novel Zn-based luminescent coordination polymer [Zn(phen)(H₂O)]₂[L]·2H₂O (1), [H₄L=(E)-5,5'-(diazene-1,2-diyl) diisophthalic acid] was synthesized via a solvothermal reaction, which has a three-dimensional supramolecular structure. Compound 1 exhibits good chemical and thermal stability, and can effectively detect nitroaromatic explosives (NACs) via a fluorescence quenching effect. Especially for 2,4,6-trinitrophenol, compound 1 has demonstrated very high sensitivity (K_SV=1.9×10⁴ L/mol), low detection limit (LOD=9.6×10^-6 mol/L) and good anti-interference ability. Additionally, Compound 1 also exhibits good selective recognition of Fe³⁺ with excellent anti-interference performance and reusability. Through UV-visible spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations, the fluorescence quenching mechanisms of compound 1 for various analytes are discussed in detail. Based on the above excellent properties of compound 1, it has great application potential in water quality monitoring.

Key words: Coordination polymer, Crystal structure, Fluorescent probe, 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol, Fe³⁺

HU Guang, ZHANG Nanxi, LI Xiangyu, ZHAO Liyan, ZHANG Xiao, LI Xin, ZHOU Xinyi, LIU Weidong, WANG Liting, LI Bing, ZHANG Wang Zixi, LÜ Minghang. A Robust Zn-based Coordination Polymer for Ultra-sensitive and Selective Detection of Trace 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol and Fe³⁺ in Aqueous Solution[J]. Chemical Research in Chinese Universities, 2026, 42(3): 918-926.

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A Robust Zn-based Coordination Polymer for Ultra-sensitive and Selective Detection of Trace 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol and Fe³⁺ in Aqueous Solution

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