A new multifunction luminescent Zn(II) complex with selective sensing of ethanol, Fe3+, and pH

The selective detection of metal ion and organic solvent molecules is of high importance to the environmental protection. In this article, a new multifunction luminescent organic/inorganic hybrid material, named as {[ZnL2]center dot 2H(2)O}(n) (1) (HL= 3-(pyrid-4-yl)-5-(4-carbonylphenyl)-1,2,4-triazolyl), has been synthesized by hydrothermal method. The investigation indicates that complex 1 can be employed as high selectively fluorescence sensor for selective sensing of ethanol, Fe3+ and pH in solution. The selective sensing of Fe3+ is realized by the quenching behavior, and the fluorescence changes of ethanol molecules depend on the luminescent enhancement process within 30 min, while fluorescence peaks of 1 also shift with different pH values in acid solution. The quenching effect and sensing properties of 1 has also been discussed in this article.