Highly Selective Detection of Nitro Explosives by a Luminescent Metal–Organic Framework

TNP can't hide from MOF: A three-dimensional fluorescent metal–organic framework (MOF), [Cd(NDC)0.5(PCA)]⋅Gx, can be used for the detection of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP). The MOF exhibits high selectivity towards TNP, even in the presence of other nitro explosives in aqueous and organic solutions, owing to electron- and energy-transfer mechanisms and electrostatic interactions.