Selective, Sensitive, and Reversible Detection of Vapor-Phase High Explosives via Two-Dimensional Mapping: A New Strategy for MOF-Based Sensors

A new strategy has been developed for the effective detection of high explosives in vapor phase by fluorescent metal–organic framework (MOF) sensors. Two structurally related and dynamic MOFs, (Zn)2(ndc)2P·xG [ndc = 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate; P =1,2-bis­(4-pyridyl)­ethane (bpe) or 1,2-bis­(4-pyridyl)­ethylene (bpee); G = guest/solvent molecule], exhibit a two-dimensional signal response toward analytes of interest in the vapor phase, including aromatic and aliphatic high explosives (e.g., TNT and RDX). The interaction between analytes and the MOF has been studied using in situ infrared absorption spectroscopy and a DFT computational method.