A new luminescent terbium metal organic framework [Tb-3(L)(2)(HCOO).(H2O)(5)]center dot DMF center dot 4H(2)O (1) (H4L = 4,4'-(pyridine-3,5-diyl)diisophthalic acid) has been successfully assembled by Tb3+ ions and an undeveloped pyridyl-tetracarbokylate. Compound 1 exhibits a 3D porous (3,8)-connected (4.5(2))(2)(4(2).5(12).6(6).7(5).8(3)) topological framework with fascinating 1D Open hydrophilic channels decorated by uncoordinated Lewis basic pyridyl nitrogen atoms. In particular, the Tb-MOF (1) can detect Cu2+ ions with high selectivity and sensitivity, and its luminescence is nearly entirely quenched in N,N-dimethylforrnamide (DMF) solution and biological system. In addition, 1 still has high detection for the trace content of nitromethane with 70 ppm, which suggests that 1 is a promising example of dual functional materials with sensing copper ions and nitromethane.