To construct desired metal-organic framework (MOF) sensors, the predesigned functionalized ligands 2,5-bis(2',5'-dicarboxylphenyl)pyridine (L-N) and 2,5-bis(2',5'-dicarboxylphenyl)difluorobenzene (L-F) with pyridine- and fluorine-decorated tetracarboxylic acids were used, and two stable terbium-organic frameworks, H3O[(Tb-(L-N)(H2O)(2)]center dot 2H(2)O (Tb-N) and [Tb-3(L-F)(2)(HCOO)(H2O)(4)]center dot 6H(2)O (Tb-F), have been synthesized. The structures of Tb-N and Tb-F contain 1D open channels, which are functionalized by pyridine N or F atoms, respectively. Both of them show intense fluorescence in water and exhibit excellent selectivity and sensitivity to Fe3+ ions. The effects of different functional group sites on the stability and fluorescence sensing performance of MOFs have also been studied. In addition, a gas adsorption study demonstrates that Tb-N is capable of adsorbing C2H2 over CH4 selectively.