Photocatalytic applications of metal-organic frameworks

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) materials are a new class of crystalline porous materials that have emerged in chemistry and materials science in recent years, in which metals are bonded with covalent bonds and organic binders. MOFs are used in the catalytic degradation of organic dyes due to their semiconductor behaviors, porous structure, pore size, functionality, and excellent mechanical stability. MOFs containing different metal ligands can be produced by adjusting the structure and properties of MOFs with the appropriate choice of building blocks. In this study, the photocatalytic activity of Zr-based MOFs under an LED light to remove methylene blue (MB) colors was investigated by using PDOP as initial templates for the production of visible light-sensitive photocatalysts. The chelate formation between Zr4+ and polydopamine (PDOP) led to the nucleation of Zr-O clusters. This cluster nucleation also facilitated the growth mechanism of MOFs on the PDOP. MOF photocatalytic performance was investigated using a LED light source. Also, MOF's physical and chemical properties were investigated using XRD, SEM, and FTIR. Thanks to the newly synthesized catalysts, remarkable rates of photodegradation have been achieved.