Highly Sensitive Turn-On Detection of Perfluorooctanoic Acid by a Tb(III)-Based Coordination Polymer

Perfluoroalkyl substances, including the most frequently detected perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), have emerged as persistent environmental contaminants of global concern, posing threats to human health. Consequently, their effective detection is of paramount importance. Although coordination polymers show great potential for fluorescence-based sensing, their utility in perfluoroalkyl substance detection remains unexplored. Herein, we report a Tb(III) coordination polymer constructed from 4′-(4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-3,5-dicarboxylic acid as a fluorescent sensor for PFOA detection in diverse water matrices, including drinking water, tap water, Pearl River water, and seawater. Differing from the typical fluorescence quenching mechanism observed in most sensors of organic pollutants, the interaction between the Tb coordination polymer and PFOA induces a highly sensitive turn-on fluorescence response. The developed sensor exhibits exceptional selectivity, sensitivity, and recyclability, achieving a low detection limit of 0.066 nM for PFOA.