Wong, DannyKim, SeonghwanAbuzalat, Osama2023-11-092023-11-092022-06-08Wong, D., Kim, S., & Abuzalat, O. (2022). In situ encapsulation of ZrQ in UiO-66 (Zr-BDC) for pore size control to enhance detection of a nerve agent simulant dimethyl methyl phosphonate. Applied Organometallic Chemistry, 36(8), e6769. https://doi.org/10.1002/aoc.6769https://hdl.handle.net/1880/117529https://doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/42372Chemical warfare agents are toxic chemicals that require rapid, easy-to-use, sensitive, and selective sensors to countermeasure. Simulants, such as dimethyl methyl phosphonate (DMMP), are used to test the effectiveness of sensors toward nerve agents. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) offer large surface area and selective accessibility to active sites making them appealing for chemical sensing applications. In this work, we propose a fast, facile, direct synthesis method for manufacturing fluorescent MOFs with high sensitivity and selectivity. Zr-BDC is synthesized with 1, 4-benzenedicarboxylic acid (BDC) as an organic ligand and zirconium (Zr) metal. Fluorescent materials are then encapsulated in a novel and rapid in situ approach with strong solvents. X-ray diffraction, UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy are used to verify the successful formation of fluorescent MOFs. Compared to other methods, the gel synthesis method helps to control crystal growth leading to higher BET surface areas of ~1150 m2 g−1 for Zr-BDC and 850 m2 g−1 for ZrQ@Zr-BDC. Titration experiments show the sensitivity of the material to DMMP down to 8.3 nM with a highly linear response. Enhanced fluorescence and occupation of mesopores by ZrQ enable lower limit of detection than those of comparable works in literature. The encapsulation mechanism also prevents substantial defects that would otherwise lead to water adsorption.enUnless otherwise indicated, this material is protected by copyright and has been made available with authorization from the copyright owner. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. This is the accepted version of the following article: D. Wong, S. Kim, O. Abuzalat, Appl Organomet Chem 2022, 36(8), e6769. , which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/aoc.6769. This article may be used for noncommercial purposes in accordance with the Wiley Self-Archiving Policy [http://www.wileyauthors.com/self].ArticleRGPIN-03943-2020https://doi.org/10.1002/aoc.6769