A luminescent microporous metal-organic framework Tb(BTC)G has been developed for the recognition and sensing of anions, exhibiting a high-sensitivity sensing function with respect to fluoride.

Luminescent open metal sites within a microporous Eu(BTC) (see figure, BTC = benzene‐1,3,5‐tricarboxylate) metal–organic framework are used for binding and sensing small molecules. The small molecules, such as dimethyl formamide, acetone, and ethanol exhibit different enhancing and quenching effects on the luminescence intensity of Eu(BTC). These specific properties may allow the use of such frameworks as sensors for small molecules.

A microporous metal-organic framework, MOF, Cu(FMA)(4,4'-Bpe)0.5 (3a, FMA = fumarate; 4,4'-Bpe = 4,4'-Bpe = trans-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene) was rationally designed from a primitive cubic net whose pores are tuned by double framework interpenetration. With pore cavities of about 3.6 A, which are interconnected by pore windows of 2.0 x 3.2 A, 3a shows highly selective sorption behaviors of gas molecules.