The rational design and preparation of stable and multifunctional
metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with excellent catalysis and
adsorption properties are desirable but are great challenges. The
nitrophenol (NP) reduction to aminophenols (APs) by using the catalyst
Pd@MOFs is an effective strategy, which has attracted extensive attention
in recent years. Here, we report four stable isostructural two-dimensional
(2D) rare earth metal–organic frameworks [RE4(AAPA)6(DMA)2 (H2O)4][DMA]3[H2O]8 (namely LCUH-101, RE = Eu, Gd, Tb, Y; AAPA2– = 5-[(anthracen-9-yl-methyl)-amino]-1,3-isophthalate),
which feature a 2D layer structure with sql topology
of point symbol {44·62} and exhibit excellent
chemical stability and thermostability. The as-synthesized Pd@LCUH-101 was utilized for the catalytic reduction
of 2/3/4-nitrophenol, which indicates high catalytic activity and
recyclability attributed to the synergistic effect between Pd nanoparticles
and the 2D layered structure. Of note, the turnover frequency (TOF),
the reaction rate constant (k), and the activation
energy (E
a) of Pd@LCUH-101 (Eu) in the reduction of 4-NP, respectively, are 1.09
s–1, 2.17 min–1, and 50.2 kJ·mol–1, which show that it has superior catalytic activity.
Remarkably, LCUH-101 (Eu, Gd, Tb, and Y)
are multifunctional MOFs that can effectively absorb and separate
mixed dyes. The appropriate interlayer spacing enables them to efficiently
adsorb methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (RhB) in aqueous solution,
with adsorption capacities of 0.97 and 0.41 g·g–1, respectively, which is one of the highest values among those of
the reported MOF-based adsorbers. Meanwhile, LCUH-101 (Eu) can be used for the separation of the dye mixture
MB/MO and RhB/MO, and the excellent reusability enables LCUH-101 (Eu) to be used as chromatographic column filters
to quickly separate and recover dyes. Therefore, this work provides
a new strategy for the exploitation of stable and efficient catalysts
for NP reduction and adsorbents for dyes.