A bionic palladium metal–organic framework based on a fluorescence sensing enhancement mechanism for sensitive detection of phorate

We have developed a biomimetic fluorescent nanoprobe (Pd-MOF) that can accurately identify phorate at a fixed wavelength for rapid, sensitive and selective detection. Pd-MOF was a nanoparticle (260.00 ± 27.83 nm) based on the linkage of Pd metal and a TCPP organic framework. It could detect phorate according to the fluorescence principles similar to that of the bioluminescence of <i>Chrysaora pacifica</i> (substance interaction and chromophore fluorescence enhancement). When phorate molecules enter the pores of Pd-MOF and interact with each other, the energy transfer process is stimulated, and the fluorescence signal is significantly enhanced, thereby improving the detection sensitivity. According to shift of the white line in the XANES energy spectrum and the DFT results, phorate increased the energy gap of Pd-MOF from 0.025 eV to 0.046 eV, enhanced the stability of the system, and thus achieved fluorescence enhancement. The sensitivity of Pd-MOF was due to its much smaller energy gap (<80 times) than other metal MOFs and thus it was easier to get excited. The linear detection range for the phorate of the nanoprobe in the water system was 0.01-100 ppb, and the detection limit was 0.0017 ppb. The response time of the Pd-MOF nanoprobe to phorate was 45 seconds. The detection of phorate in tap water, pear and cabbage samples showed that the recovery rates were in the range of 87.69-106.12%, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was less than 11.16%, which verified the possibility of Pd-MOF nanoprobe in practical application. The sensitive and specific recognition of phorate by Pd-MOF nanoprobe and the development of a phorate test strip (Pd-MOF@paper) confirmed its potential application in pesticide residue detection.