Solvent effect is a vital subject in the domain of coordination chemistry. In this connection, previous researches mainly focus on the role of solvents in reaction kinetics and thermodynamics during the coordination processes. In virtue of the recent efforts on coordination supramolecular systems, especially coordination polymers or metal–organic frameworks, this feature article aims to demonstrate the solvent effect on regulating such diversiform metallosupramolecular solids, incorporating their crystal growth/assembly, structural modulation, dynamic transformations, and potential applications, which may provide new insights into the rational design and construction of such advanced crystalline materials.

The template-directed synthesis of a novel luminescent Tb-MOF material which could serve as a multi-responsive probe for sensing Fe³⁺ and Al³⁺ ions in water, as well as p-xylene and nitrobenzene in the vapor state is presented here.