Title: Study on preparation and properties of a novel photo-catalytic material based on copper-centred metal-organic frameworks (Cu-MOF) and titanium dioxide

Authors: Nguyen Thanh Binh; Phung Thi Thu; Ngo Thi Hong Le; Dinh Manh Tien; Hoang Thi Khuyen; Lam Thi Kieu Giang; Nguyen Thanh Huong; Tran Dai Lam

Addresses: Institute of Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Cau Giay Dist., Hanoi, Vietnam ' Institute of Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Cau Giay Dist., Hanoi, Vietnam ' Institute of Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Cau Giay Dist., Hanoi, Vietnam ' Institute of Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Cau Giay Dist., Hanoi, Vietnam ' Institute of Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Cau Giay Dist., Hanoi, Vietnam ' Institute of Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Cau Giay Dist., Hanoi, Vietnam ' Institute of Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Cau Giay Dist., Hanoi, Vietnam ' Institute of Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Cau Giay Dist., Hanoi, Vietnam

Abstract: A Cu₃BTC₂ metal-organic framework (MOF) with large specific surface area of 1350 m²/g, where BTC = benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate, was synthesised by hydrothermal method. It was then used as a starting material for the preparation of a novel MOF based photocatalyst containing titanium dioxide. This photocatalyst, namely, TiO₂@Cu₃BTC₂, has been prepared by hydrolysis of titanium (IV) isopropoxide under hydrothermal condition. The synthesised materials were then characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) techniques. The photocatalytic discolouration of methylene blue dye (MB) in aqueous solution was investigated under UV-VIS light irradiation at different illumination times using the photocatalyst TiO₂@Cu₃BTC₂ metal-organic frameworks and a control sample of commercial TiO₂ nano powder (Degussa P25). It is interesting to note that TiO₂@Cu₃BTC₂ exhibits very strong photocatalytic activity for MB discolouration, much better than lone TiO₂ nano-particles P25. Thus, this novel photocatalytic material based on copper-centred MOFs may serve as an excellent class of photocatalytic materials for different environmental applications.

Keywords: MOF; photocatalysis; titanium dioxide; discolouration; methylene blue; copper; metal-organic frameworks; TiO2; nanopowders; nanotechnology; nanoparticles; photocatalytic materials.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2015.067902

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2015 Vol.12 No.5/6/7, pp.447 - 455

Published online: 08 Mar 2015 *

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