Cu@MUT‐17 Nanocomposite as a Plasmonic Photocatalyst for Degradation of Acid Red 14 Under Visible Light

ABSTRACT A new three‐dimensional (3D) metal–organic framework (MOF) based on nickel (Ni) with the formula [Ni 2 (DClTPA) 2 (DABCO)]·(DMF) 2 , denoted as MUT‐17 , containing 2,5‐dichloroterephthalic acid (DClTPA) and 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO), was synthesized using a solvothermal method. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (SCXRD) analysis confirmed that MUT‐17 (MUT = Materials from University of Tehran) crystallized in a tetragonal crystal system with the I4 1 /acd space group. The paddle‐wheel secondary building units (SBUs) of MUT‐17 were linked through the carboxylate oxygen atoms of 2,5‐dichloroterephthalate, resulting in the formation of two‐dimensional (2D) sheets. These 2D sheets were further interconnected by the DABCO ligand, which acts as a pillar, creating a 3D framework. The porous structure of MUT‐17 exhibited a BET surface area of 914.35 m 2 ·g −1 and a pore volume of 0.40 cm 3 ·g −1 . Integrating copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) with porous materials such as MOFs can improve their photocatalytic performance as a co‐catalyst with a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect. As a result, MUT‐17 was utilized as an effective support and porous matrix for the immobilization of Cu NPs via a photoreduction route (PR) into/onto it. The resulting Cu@ MUT‐17 nanocomposite acted as a plasmonic photocatalyst, demonstrating remarkable photocatalytic activity with an 87.54% degradation rate of Acid Red 14 within just 30 min of visible light irradiation.