Role of metal-organic framework (MOF) for pesticide sensing

Abstract

Metal-organic framework (MOF) is a three-dimensional porous network built on unique coordination of metal and organic linkers. Few characteristic features such as wide variation in secondary building unit (SBU), abundant functional groups, tuneable porosity, exclusive optical properties, enormous absorption capacity and incredible catalytic properties enable MOF as one of the promising materials in a large number of applications. Starting from removal of pollutants and toxic chemicals from wastewater, catalysing very important and apparently impossible reactions, efficient absorption and separation of gases, hydrogen generation, smart sensing, light emission devices, dialytic membrane to drug delivery, briefly in every aspect of MOF and its composite find major role to play. Strategies adopted to synthesize MOF include conventional technique (solvothermal and nonsolvothermal), microwave, electrochemical, sonochemical and mechanochemical. All these techniques have its own advantages and disadvantages and hence silhouette the ultimate properties and applications. Out of wide range of applications, pesticide sensing could be one of the most successful uses of MOF and its composite. The present chapter briefly describes an overview of the applications of MOF and its composites towards pesticide sensing using various types of transducing techniques like optical, electrochemical and chromatography. MOF itself can detect nitro containing organophosphorus (OP) efficiently and selectively via fluorescence imaging.