Highly sensitive and selective ratiometric fluorescent metal–organic framework sensor to nitroaniline in presence of nitroaromatic compounds and VOCs

[Display omitted] •A ratiometric luminescent-based MOF sensor with 2D signal transduction.•Improvement of accuracy and selective detection of a specific analyte.•Eliminating response-influencing environmental factors.•Amplified sensitivity to different concentrations of Nitroaniline.•The best stern-volmer constant value among the reported values so far for selective sensors to NA. Sensing properties of a ratiometric fluorescent metal-organic framework sensor, TMU-4S, prepared by introducing laser dye of Rhodamine B into the framework of a Zn(II) based MOF, TMU-4, [Zn2(oba)2(4-bpdb)]n·2DMF for detection of explosive nitro aromatic compounds were investigated. Azine decorated pores of TMU-4 with basicity properties show high selectivity to low concentrations of nitroaniline. Using the ratiometric fluorescent sensor with two-dimensions, signal transduction leads to greatly reduced environmental interference responses and thus it creates particular sensitivity to a certain analyte with a specific concentration.