Multi-Sensor Device for Traceable Monitoring of Indoor Environmental Quality.

The Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) combines thermal, visual, acoustic, and air-quality conditions in indoor environments and affects occupants' health, well-being, and comfort. Performing continuous monitoring to assess IEQ is increasingly proving to be important, also due to the large amount of time that people spend in closed spaces. In the present study, the design, development, and metrological characterization of a low-cost multi-sensor device is presented. The device is part of a wider system, hereafter referred to as PROMET&O (PROactive Monitoring for indoor EnvironmenTal quality & cOmfort), that also includes a questionnaire for the collection of occupants' feedback on comfort perception and a dashboard to show end users all monitored data. The PROMET&O multi-sensor monitors the quality conditions of indoor environments thanks to a set of low-cost sensors that measure air temperature, relative humidity, illuminance, sound pressure level, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and formaldehyde. The device architecture is described, and the design criteria related to measurement requirements are highlighted. Particular attention is paid to the calibration of the device to ensure the metrological traceability of the measurements. Calibration procedures, based on the comparison to reference standards and following commonly employed or ad hoc developed technical procedures, were defined and applied to the bare sensors of air temperature and relative humidity, carbon dioxide, illuminance, sound pressure level, particulate matter, and formaldehyde. The next calibration phase in the laboratory will be aimed at analyzing the mutual influences of the assembled multi-sensor hardware components and refining the calibration functions.

Impact of Liposomal Bupivacaine on Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol for Lung Resection.

BACKGROUND: There is limited data showing the benefit of liposomal bupivacaine as part of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol in reducing opioid use in minimally invasive lobectomies. METHODS: A retrospective observational study compared three cohorts of patients undergoing lobectomies between January 2015 and December 2021. The control group neither received liposomal bupivacaine intraoperatively nor underwent an ERAS protocol. The liposomal bupivacaine cohort only received a nerve block, whereas the ERAS cohort received a nerve block intraoperatively and underwent an ERAS protocol. Primary outcome was post-operative opioid consumption. RESULTS: There were 433 patients in this study (n=87 for controls, n=138 for liposomal bupivacaine alone, and n=208 for ERAS/liposomal bupivacaine). There was a statistically significant difference in the amount of opioids used between the control (43 OME) and liposomal bupivacaine alone cohort (30.5 OME) (p<.001); between control vs. ERAS/liposomal bupivacaine cohort (17 OME) (p<.001); and between liposomal bupivacaine alone and ERAS/liposomal bupivacaine cohorts (p<.001). Hospital stay was not statistically different between the two groups of interest (3 days); however, hospital stay differed from the control (4 days). 30-day readmission was not significantly different between the 3 groups (p=.43). CONCLUSIONS: Liposomal bupivacaine alone as part of a larger ERAS protocol significantly reduced opioid use and hospitalization duration; however, the reduction in opioid use was much greater with incorporation of liposomal bupivacaine into an ERAS protocol rather than in isolation. Prospective studies are needed to determine reproducibility and applicability of liposomal bupivacaine for opioid use reduction in other US hospital systems.

LiNbO3 Thin Films through a Sol-Gel/Spin-Coating Approach Using a Novel Heterobimetallic Lithium-Niobium Precursor.

Lithium niobate is a lead-free material which has attracted considerable attention due to its excellent optical, piezoelectric, and ferroelectric properties. This research is devoted to the synthesis through an innovative sol-gel/spin-coating approach of polycrystalline LiNbO3 films on Si substrates. A novel single-source hetero-bimetallic precursor containing lithium and niobium was synthesized and applied to the sol-gel synthesis. The structural, compositional, and thermal characteristics of the precursor have been tested through attenuated total reflection, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. The LiNbO3 films have been characterized from a structural point of view with combined X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy have been used to study the morphological and compositional properties of the deposited films.

Highly stable CsPbBr3 perovskite phases from new lead ß-diketonate glyme adducts.

Lead is one of the key metals of the all-inorganic lead halide perovskites. This work tailors novel architectures of lead's coordination sphere using a ß-diketone (H-hfa = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedione) and a glyme (monoglyme, diglyme, triglyme, or tetraglyme) ligand. The coordination chemistry and thermal behaviour of these "Pb(hfa)2·glyme" adducts have been analysed through FT-IR spectroscopy, 1H and 13C NMR analyses, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies provide evidence of the formation of a monomeric Pb(hfa)2·monoglyme structure. In order to validate the potentiality of these "Pb(hfa)2·glyme" precursors for the fabrication of Pb-based halide perovskites, a facile, one-step and low-temperature solution approach has been applied to prepare CsPbBr3 microcrystals with a process carried out in air under atmospheric pressure. Pure stoichiometric CsPbBr3 powders, obtained using Cs(hfa) and Br2 as cesium and bromide sources, respectively, show excellent stability under atmospheric conditions. Better results are obtained in terms of yield and stability from the diglyme and tetraglyme lead adducts. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) indicates a good uniform morphology of cubic grains, while the structure and the 1 : 1 : 3 stoichiometry of Cs : Pb : Br are confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), respectively. Tauc plots derived from absorption spectroscopy point to optical energy band-gaps (Eg) in the 2.21-2.27 eV range, in agreement with literature data. The present research elucidates the potential of these novel "Pb(hfa)2·glyme" adducts as promising lead precursors for CsPbBr3 perovskite synthesis, paving the way for their implementation in various technological applications.

Fabrication of Europium-Doped CaF2 Films via Sol-Gel Synthesis as Down-Shifting Layers for Solar Cell Applications.

In the present work, an in-depth study on the sol-gel process for the fabrication of Eu-doped CaF2 materials in the form of thin films has been addressed for the production of down-shifting layers. Fine-tuning of the operative parameters, such as the annealing temperature, substrate nature and doping ion percentage, has been finalized in order to obtain Eu(III)-doped CaF2 thin films via a reproducible and selective solution process for down-shifting applications. An accurate balance of such parameters allows for obtaining films with high uniformity in terms of both their structural and compositional features. The starting point of the synthesis is the use of a mixture of Ca(hfa)2•diglyme•H2O and Eu(hfa)3•diglyme adducts, with a suited ratio to produce 5%, 10% and 15% Eu-doped CaF2 films, in a water/ethanol solution. A full investigation of the structural, morphological and compositional features of the films, inspected using X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), respectively, has stated a correlation between the annealing temperature and the structural characteristics and morphology of the CaF2 thin films. Interestingly, crystalline CaF2 films are obtained at quite low temperatures of 350-400 °C. The down-shifting properties, validated by taking luminescence measurements under UV excitation, have allowed us to correlate the local environment in terms of the degree of symmetry around the europium ions with the relative doping ion percentages.

Green Ultrasound-Assisted Synthesis of Rare-Earth-Based MOFs.

Rare-earth (RE)-based metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are quickly gaining popularity as flexible functional materials in a variety of technological fields. These MOFs are useful for more than just conventional uses like gas sensors and catalyst materials; in fact, they also show significant promise in emerging technologies including photovoltaics, optical, and biomedical applications. Using yttrium and europium as ionic host centres and dopants, respectively, and 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (H3-BTC) as an organic linker, we describe a simple and green approach for the fabrication of RE-MOFs. Specifically, Y-BTCs and Eu-doped Y-BTCs MOFs have been synthesised in a single step using an eco-friendly method that makes use of ultrasound technology. To establish a correlation between the morphological and structural properties and reaction conditions, a range of distinct reaction periods has been employed for the synthetic processes. Detailed analyses of the synthesised samples through powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) have confirmed the phase formation. Furthermore, thermal analyses such as thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) have been employed to evaluate the thermal stability and structural modifications of the Y-BTC and Eu-doped Y-BTC samples. Finally, the luminescent properties of the synthesised samples doped with Eu3+ have been assessed, providing an evaluation of their characteristics. As a proof of concept, an Eu-doped Y-BTC sample has been applied for the sensing of nitrobenzene as a molecule test of nitro derivatives.

Highly Tunable MOCVD Process of Vanadium Dioxide Thin Films: Relationship between Structural/Morphological Features and Electrodynamic Properties.

The monoclinic structures of vanadium dioxide are widely studied as appealing systems due to a plethora of functional properties in several technological fields. In particular, the possibility to obtain the VO2 material in the form of thin film with a high control of structure and morphology represents a key issue for their use in THz devices and sensors. Herein, a fine control of the crystal habit has been addressed through an in-depth study of the metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) synthetic approach. The focus is devoted to the key operative parameters such as deposition temperature inside the reactor in order to stabilize the P21/c or the C2/m monoclinic VO2 structures. Furthermore, the compositional purity, the morphology and the thickness of the VO2 films have been assessed through energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), respectively. THz time domain spectroscopy is used to validate at very high frequency the functional properties of the as-prepared VO2 films.

Implementation of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol for total abdominal hysterectomies in the division of gynecologic oncology: a network-wide quality improvement initiative.

CONTEXT: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols have been shown to decrease length of stay and postoperative opioid usage in colorectal and bariatric surgeries performed at large academic centers. Hysterectomies are the second most common surgical procedure among women in the United States. Hysterectomies performed in an open fashion, or total abdominal hysterectomies (TAHs), account for a large portion of procedures performed by gynecologic oncologists secondary to current oncology guidelines and surgical complexity. Implementation of an ERAS protocol for gynecologic oncology TAHs is one way in which patient outcomes may be improved. OBJECTIVES: An ERAS protocol for gynecologic oncology surgeries performed in a community hospital was instituted with the goal to optimize patient outcomes preoperatively. The primary outcome of interest was to reduce patient opioid usage. Secondary outcomes included compliance with the ERAS protocol, length of stay, and cost. Thirdly, this study aimed to demonstrate the unique challenges of implementing a large-scale protocol across a community network. METHODS: An ERAS protocol was implemented in 2018, with multidisciplinary input from the Departments of Gynecologic Oncology, Anesthesia, Pharmacy, Nursing, Information Technology, and Quality Improvement to develop a comprehensive ERAS order set. This was implemented across a 12-site hospital system network that consisted of both urban and rural hospital settings. A retrospective review of patient charts was performed to assess measured outcomes. Parametric and nonparametric tests were utilized for statistical analysis with p<0.05 denoting statistical significance. If the p value was >0.05 and <0.09, this was considered a trend toward significant. RESULTS: A total of 124 patients underwent a TAH utilizing the ERAS protocol during 2018 and 2019. The control arm consisted of 59 patients who underwent a TAH prior to the ERAS protocol intervention, which was the standard of care in 2017. After 2 years of implementation of the ERAS protocol intervention, we found that 48 % of the ERAS patients had minimal opioid requirements after surgery (oral morphine equivalent [OME] range 0-40) with decreased postoperative opioid requirements in the ERAS group (p=0.03). Although not statistically significant, utilization of the ERAS protocol for gynecologic oncology TAHs trended toward shorter hospital length of stay from 5.18 to 4.17 days (p=0.07). The median total hospital costs per patient also showed a nonsignificant decrease in cost from $13,342.00 in the non-ERAS cohort and $13,703.00 in the ERAS cohort (p=0.8). CONCLUSIONS: A large-scale quality improvement (QI) initiative is feasible utilizing a multidisciplinary team to implement an ERAS protocol for TAHs in the division of Gynecologic Oncology with promising results. This large-scale QI result was comparable to studies that conducted quality-improvement ERAS initiatives at single academic institutions and should be considered within community networks.

Metalorganic Chemical Vapor Deposition Approach to the Synthesis of Perovskite BaCeO3 and BaCe0.8Y0.2O3 Thin Films.

In the present energetic scenario, the development of materials with high potentiality in the technological fields of energy conversion processes, production and storage of hydrogen, are of great interest in the scientific community. In particular, we report for the first time the fabrication of crystalline and homogeneous barium-cerate-based materials in the form of thin films on various substrates. Starting from the ß-diketonate precursor sources Ce(hfa)3diglyme, Ba(hfa)2tetraglyme and Y(hfa)3diglyme (Hhfa = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetone; diglyme = bis(2-methoxyethyl)ether; tetraglyme = 2,5,8,11,14-pentaoxapentadecane), a metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) approach has been successfully applied to the fabrication of BaCeO3 and doped BaCe0.8Y0.2O3 systems in the form of thin films. Structural, morphological and compositional analyses allowed for an accurate determination of the properties of deposited layers. The present approach represents a simple, easily scalable, and industrially appealing process for the production of compact and homogeneous barium cerate thin films.

The Efficacy of Liposomal Bupivacaine in Regional Nerve Blocks for Below Knee Amputations.

Postamputation pain is highly prevalent. Opioids are often utilized postoperatively; however, they have significant side effects. Liposomal bupivacaine (LB) was introduced to extend nerve blocks from hours into days. Regional nerve blocks with LB for below knee amputation (BKA) is a novel approach which may reduce opioid use after surgery. A retrospective review was conducted for patients who had received LB nerve blocks compared to none for postoperative pain control in BKAs. Daily average opioid consumption was evaluated from the time in postoperative acute care unit until day of discharge in oral morphine equivalents (OME). 69 patients who underwent below knee amputations were reviewed. The mean average daily OME was lower in the LB group compared to control group(25.0 vs 50.5 OME, respectively; P = .002) A higher percentage of patients in the study group were categorized in the minimal opioid use when compared to the control group LB regional nerve blocks for the BKA population are considered a novel approach in pain control. Our exploratory study shows that patients who received LB nerve blocks may have decreased opioid consumption after surgery.

A Low Temperature Growth of Cu2O Thin Films as Hole Transporting Material for Perovskite Solar Cells.

Copper oxide thin films have been successfully synthesized through a metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) approach starting from the copper bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionate), Cu(tmhd)2, complex. Operative conditions of fabrication strongly affect both the composition and morphologies of the copper oxide thin films. The deposition temperature has been accurately monitored in order to stabilize and to produce, selectively and reproducibly, the two phases of cuprite Cu2O and/or tenorite CuO. The present approach has the advantages of being industrially appealing, reliable, and fast for the production of thin films over large areas with fine control of both composition and surface uniformity. Moreover, the methylammonium lead iodide (MAPI) active layer has been successfully deposited on the ITO/Cu2O substrate by the Low Vacuum Proximity Space Effusion (LV-PSE) technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analyses have been used to characterize the deposited films. The optical band gap (Eg), ranging from 1.99 to 2.41 eV, has been determined through UV-vis analysis, while the electrical measurements allowed to establish the p-type conductivity behavior of the deposited Cu2O thin films with resistivities from 31 to 83 Ω cm and carrier concentration in the order of 1.5-2.8 × 1016 cm-3. These results pave the way for potential applications of the present system as a hole transporting layer combined with a perovskite active layer in emergent solar cell technologies.

Sensing enhancement of a Fabry-Perot THz cavity using switchable VO2 mirrors.

We experimentally investigate the sensing properties of an open cavity operating in the THz regime and realized by employing as mirrors two thin vanadium dioxide (VO2) films grown on silicon parallel plates and separated by a variable length. The phase transition of VO2 is used to control the behavior of the system between two different responses: a high transmission mode to the incident radiation (VO2 in the insulating state) and a high sensitivity to tiny changes in the cavity refractive index (VO2 in the conducting state). In the first state, the low loss regime enables to adjust the cavity length and easily optimize the resonances due to the Fabry-Perot (FP) effect in the Si plates and in the cavity volume. The activation of the metallic-like state instead, by damping the FP oscillations in the plates, promotes the onset of a comb-like spectrum that can be exploited as a versatile tool for accurate sensing applications. Using both an analytical model and full-wave simulations, we estimate the device response to variation in the refractive index of the cavity volume, showing that the proposed structure can achieve sensitivity values among the highest reported for THz sensors.

Sodium ß-Diketonate Glyme Adducts as Precursors for Fluoride Phases: Synthesis, Characterization and Functional Validation.

Very few sodium complexes are available as precursors for the syntheses of sodium-based nanostructured materials. Herein, the diglyme, triglyme, and tetraglyme (CH3O(CH2CH2O)nCH3, n = 2-4) adducts of sodium hexafluoroacetylacetonate were synthesized in a single-step reaction and characterized by IR spectroscopy, 1H, and 13C NMR. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies provide evidence of the formation of the ionic oligomeric structure [Na4(hfa)6]2-•2[Na(diglyme2]+ when the diglyme is coordinated, while a mononuclear seven-coordinated complex Na(hfa)•tetraglyme is formed with the tetraglyme. Reaction with the monoglyme (CH3OCH2CH2OCH3) does not occur, and the unadducted polymeric structure [Na(hfa)]n forms, while the triglyme gives rise to a liquid adduct, Na(hfa)•triglyme•H2O. Thermal analysis data reveal great potentialities for their applications as precursors in metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) and sol-gel processes. As a proof-of-concept, the Na(hfa)•tetraglyme adduct was successfully applied to both the low-pressure MOCVD and the sol-gel/spin-coating synthesis of NaF films.

Luminescent 1,10-Phenanthroline ß-Diketonate Europium Complexes with Large Second-Order Nonlinear Optical Properties.

Substitution of the diglyme ligand of [Eu(hfa)3(diglyme)] (where hfa is hexafluoroacetylacetonate) with a simple 1,10-phenanthroline leads to a six-fold increase of the product µßEFISH, as measured by the Electric-Field-Induced Second Harmonic generation (EFISH) technique. Similarly, [Eu(tta)3(1,10-phenanthroline)] (where Htta is 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone) is characterized by a large second-order NLO response. Both 1,10-phenanthroline europium complexes have great potential as multifunctional materials for photonics.

Synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic properties of nanostructured lanthanide doped ß-NaYF4/TiO2 composite films.

The photocatalytic approach is known to be one of the most promising advanced oxidation processes for the tertiary treatment of polluted water. In this paper, ß-NaYF4/TiO2 composite films have been synthetized through a novel sol-gel/spin-coating approach using a mixture of ß-diketonate complexes of Na and Y, and Yb3+, Tm3+, Gd3+, Eu3+ as doping ions, together with the TiO2 P25 nanoparticles. The herein pioneering approach represents an easy, straightforward and industrially appealing method for the fabrication of doped ß-NaYF4/TiO2 composites. The effect of the doped ß-NaYF4 phase on the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) has been deeply investigated. In particular, the upconverting TiO2/ß-NaYF4: 20%Yb, 2% Gd, x% Tm (x = 0.5 and 1%) and the downshifting TiO2/ß-NaYF4: 10% Eu composite films have been tested on MB degradation both under UV and visible light irradiation. An improvement up to 42.4% in the degradation of MB has been observed for the TiO2/ß-NaYF4: 10% Eu system after 240 min of UV irradiation.

Journey of a molecule from the solid to the gas phase and vice versa: direct estimation of vapor pressure of alkaline-earth metalorganic precursors for atmospheric pressure vapor phase deposition of fluoride films.

Atmospheric pressure (AP) vapor phase processes such as spatial atomic layer deposition (S-ALD) and AP-metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (AP-MOCVD) are becoming increasingly appealing for their use in a variety of academic and industrial applications. Evaluation of precursor vapour pressures is crucial for their application in AP processes and to this aim the Langmuir equation has been applied as a simple and straightforward method for estimating the vapor pressure and vaporization enthalpy of various metalorganic precursors. Using benzoic acid as a calibration reference, the vapour pressure-temperature curves for several alkaline-earth ß-diketonate fluorinated compounds, with molecular formula "M(hfa)2·L" (with M = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba; Hhfa = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetone and L = diglyme, triglyme, and tetraglyme) are derived from their termogravimetric curves. Thus, the enthalpy of vaporization of all complexes has been estimated using the Clausius-Clapeyron equation. As a proof of concept, preliminary results on the use of [Mg(hfa)2·2H2O]·2diglyme and [Ca(hfa)2·diglyme·H2O] or [Ca(hfa)2·triglyme] as precursors for AP-MOCVD deposition of MgF2 and CaF2 in the form of thin films are presented. This approach may be used to easily determine vapor pressures of complexes and thus evaluate "a priori" the suitability of a compound as precursor for AP-MOCVD and/or spatial ALD.

Liposomal Bupivacaine in Adductor Canal Blocks Before Total Knee Arthroplasty Leads to Improved Postoperative Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: This study compares the use of liposomal bupivacaine (Exparel) versus ropivacaine in adductor canal blocks (ACB) before total knee arthroplasties (TKAs). METHODS: From the months of April 2020 to September 2021, 147 patients undergoing unilateral primary TKA were asked to participate in this prospective, double-blinded randomized controlled trial. Each patient received an iPACK block utilizing ropivacaine and was additionally randomized to receive an ACB with Exparel or Ropivacaine. For each patient, demographic information, inpatient hospital information, postoperative opioid use, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire scores were collected. RESULTS: Overall, 100 patients were included (50 in each cohort). The Exparel group had a lower hospital length of stay compared to the Control group (36.3 vs 49.7 hours, P < .01). Patients in the Exparel group reported an increased amount of Numerical Rating Scale pain score improvement at all postoperative timepoints. These patients also used a lower amount of inpatient opioids (40.9 vs 47.3 MME/d, P = .04) but a similar amount of outpatient opioids (33.4 vs 32.1 MME/d, P = .351). Finally, the Exparel group had increased improvements in all WOMAC subscores and total scores at most timepoints compared to the Control group (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Exparel peripheral regional nerve blocks lead to decreases in pain levels, shorter hospital lengths of stay, inpatient opioid usage, and improved WOMAC scores. Exparel can be safely used in ACB blocks before TKA to help in controlling postoperative pain and decrease length of stay.

Optimization of Oxygen Evolution Reaction with Electroless Deposited Ni-P Catalytic Nanocoating.

The low efficiency of water electrolysis mostly arises from the thermodynamic uphill oxygen evolution reaction. The efficiency can be greatly improved by rationally designing low-cost and efficient oxygen evolution anode materials. Herein, we report the synthesis of Ni-P alloys adopting a facile electroless plating method under mild conditions on nickel substrates. The relationship between the Ni-P properties and catalytic activity allowed us to define the best conditions for the electroless synthesis of highperformance Ni-P catalysts. Indeed, the electrochemical investigations indicated an increased catalytic response by reducing the thickness and Ni/P ratio in the alloy. Furthermore, the Ni-P catalysts with optimized size and composition deposited on Ni foam exposed more active sites for the oxygen evolution reaction, yielding a current density of 10 mA cm-2 at an overpotential as low as 335 mV, exhibiting charge transfer resistances of only a few ohms and a remarkable turnover frequency (TOF) value of 0.62 s-1 at 350 mV. The present study provides an advancement in the control of the electroless synthetic approach for the design and large-scale application of high-performance metal phosphide catalysts for electrochemical water splitting.

A Facile One-Pot Approach to the Synthesis of Gd-Eu Based Metal-Organic Frameworks and Applications to Sensing of Fe3+ and Cr2O72- Ions.

Gadolinium metal-organic frameworks (Gd-MOFs) and Eu-doped Gd-MOFs have been synthesized through a one-pot green approach using commercially available reagents. The 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid (H2-BDC) and 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid (H2-NDC) were chosen as ditopic organic linkers to build the 3D structure of the network. The Gd-MOFs were characterized using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), FT-IR spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and N2 adsorption-desorption analysis. The Gd-MOF structures were attributed comparing the XRD patterns, supported by the FT-IR spectra, with data reported in the literature for Ln-MOFs of similar lanthanide ionic radius. FE-SEM characterization points to the effect of the duration of the synthesis to a more crystalline and organized structure, with grain dimensions increasing upon increasing reaction time. The total surface area of the MOFs has been determined from the application of the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method. The study allowed us to correlate the processing conditions and ditopic linker dimension to the network surface area. Both Gd-MOF and Eu-doped Gd-MOF have been tested for sensing of the inorganic ions such as Fe3+ and Cr2O72-.