Upconverting Luminescent MOF for Highly Sensitive Dual-Mode Recognition of Synthetic Dyes

Lanthanide-based luminescent materials hold promise in sensing applications due to their distinct optical properties. Though advancements in lanthanide-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have enhanced downshifting luminescence, achieving upconversion remains challenging. In this effort, we prepared upconverting ytterbium-doped europium MOFs (<i>x</i>%Yb³⁺-EuMOFs; <i>x</i> = 10, 20, and 30) via the solvothermal method using 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid (NDC) as an organic linker. Upconversion (UC) luminescence studies revealed that 30%Yb³⁺-EuMOF (<b>MOF-3</b>) rapidly detects malachite green (MG, a textile dye) and brilliant green (BG, a food colorant) with excellent sensitivity (λ_ex = 980 nm). Notably, UC luminescence offers a lower detection limit (MG: 36.33 nM, BG: 287.9 nM) compared to the downconverting sensing approach (λ_ex 270 nm), while the related dual-mode luminescence minimizes the risk of false positives from interfering ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) light-absorbing substances. Upconversion quenching has been linked to the FRET process, with its luminescence assay accurately detecting MG in fish, water, and soil samples under 980 nm excitation (98-105% recovery).