Synthesis of Au-ZnCo ₂ O ₄ /Ce-MOFs nanocomposites for the photocatalytic degradation of aqueous organic pollutants

Abstract Photocatalysis activated by visible light is a highly promising method for environmental remediation, as it effectively harnesses solar energy. In the realm of photocatalysis, there has been a growing interest in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as of late. MOFs provide several benefits over standard metal oxide semiconductors, including a large specific surface area, a diverse topology, and a readily adjustable porous structure. However, this method has several limitations in achieving optimal photocatalytic performance, mostly due to the wide band gap and deficiency of redox activity, weak response to visible light, restraining phocatalysis on surface sites. Photocatalysis in MOFs can be developed by coupling with semiconductors or noble metals to enhance and improve the photocatalytic activity. In this work, we investigated Au-ZnCo 2 O 4 /Ce-MOFs nanocomposites (Au: 2 %, 4 % and 6 %) for the visible light-induced photocatalytic degradation of aqueous organic pollutants such as methyl orange and rhodamine B. The composition, texture, structure, and morphology of the nanocomposites were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and N 2 adsorption-desorption (BET) measurements. It was observed that 6 % Au-ZnCo 2 O 4 /Ce-MOFs nanocomposite demonstrated slightly higher photocatalytic activity for the degradation for methyl orange as compared to rhodamine B.