In this work, we report the development of easy-prepared, low cost and portable photoluminescent films for pH and amine vapors detection based on Eu(III)-complex functionalized materials: Eu(DBM)3Phen (LMOF-1), Eu(DBM)3BPY (LMOF-2), which were loaded on portable matrices (e.g. neutral silica plate and normal filter paper). The films not only displayed response over a pH range of 4–13 but also can be employed to sense volatile amines or acids vapors like ammonia, ethylenediamine, acetic acid and hydrochloric acid etc., which is significant for portable pH or acid–base vapors detection.
