Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue by Engineering Tungstic Acid@ZIF‐67 Cocatalyst

Abstract The zeolitic imidazolate frameworks have gained significant attention in various applications owing to their exceptional surface area, customizable porosity, and excellent thermal and chemical stability, making them a remarkable nanomaterial. The present study involved the utilization of ultrasonic‐assisted techniques to integrate tungstic acid into the zeolitic imidazolate framework (TA@ZIF‐67) with the aim of augmenting the photocatalytic activity. The as‐synthesized nanocomposite was characterized using X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopic analysis to inspect the structural aspects and morphology. The reduction in particle size of TA@ZIF‐67 due to the incorporation of tungstic acid results in a higher surface area, leading to a significant improvement in the photocatalytic activity of ZIF‐67. The assessment of the photocatalytic performance of ZIF‐67 and TA@ZIF‐67 was conducted through the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under sunlight. The degradation efficiency of ZIF‐67 and TA@ZIF‐67 was observed to be 61% and 85%, respectively, of the MB solution following a 60 min irradiation period. The investigation of the kinetics study based on rate constant values revealed that the utilization of TA@ZIF‐67 presented a greater efficiency in the removal of MB from an aqueous solution. The results pave a new avenue toward the design of MOF‐based photocatalysts for water treatments.