Sn-porphyrin networks were engineered on the surface of a thin layer chromatography (TLC) plate via Sonogashira coupling of the Sn-porphyrin building block and 1,4-diiodobenzene. The Sn-porphyrin film showed a strong Soret band absorption at 422 nm, emission at 600-630 nm, and excellent sensing performance toward nitrophenols in water.