Amine-functionalized Zr-MOF/CNTs nanocomposite as an efficient and reusable photocatalyst for removing organic contaminants

• Published in: Journal of molecular liquids Vol. 334; p. 116129
• Main Authors: Abdi, Jafar, Banisharif, Farhad, Khataee, Alireza
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.07.2021
• Subjects: Hydrothermal; Metal-organic framework; Organic pollutant; Photocatalytic degradation; UiO-66-NH2@CNT nanocomposite; Photocatalytic degradation; Metal-organic framework; UiO-66-NH2@CNT nanocomposite; Organic pollutant; Hydrothermal
• ISSN: 0167-7322; 1873-3166
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2021.116129

[Display omitted] •UiO-66-NH2@CNT-X as new water-stable nanocomposites were synthesized by a suitable hydrothermal method and fully characterized.•The photocatalyst represented outstanding performance for both cationic and anionic dyes photo-degradation under visible light.•After six times recycling, UiO-66-NH2@CNT (3%) still showed high photo-degradation ability and excellent water stability.•A mechanism was proposed for enhanced photocatalytic performance over UiO-66-NH2@CNT. In the current study, a new water-stable nanocomposite and amine-functionalized zirconium-based metal-organic framework/carbon nanotube (UiO-66-NH2@CNT) was synthesized using the hydrothermal approach, displaying superior photodegradation of anionic and cationic dyes under visible-light irradiation. Methyl orange (MO) and Rhodamin B (RhB) were used as organic contaminant models. The prepared materials were fully characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, TEM, BET, TGA, UV–Vis absorption, and ICP analysis. The optimal nanocomposite, UiO-66-NH2@CNT(3 wt%) exhibited the highest degradation efficiency of RhB (100%) and MO (93%) in less than 30 min under optimum conditions in comparison with other prepared materials (F-CNT, UiO-66, Ui-66-NH2, and other UiO-66-NH2@CNT-X samples). Different effective parameters such as initial dye concentration, catalyst dosage, and solution pH have been also studied. The possible mechanism for photodegradation of dyes over UiO-66-NH2@CNT(3 wt%) showed that the increase in the photocatalytic activity can be attributed to the range of improved visible-light absorption (lower band gap), and the great specific surface area based on composite and water stability as well as the formation of an effective hetero-junction. Trapping studies also revealed that hydroxyl radicals (OH•) and photo-generated holes (h+) had the most influence on the photocatalytic degradation of both dyes. The kinetic study for the dye degradation process was fitted with a first-order kinetic model. Also, after six-reuse cycles, the optimum composite still showed high photodegradation ability (>90%).