ZIF-8/TiO2 Composite Mesocrystals: Preparation and Photocatalytic Activity

doi:10.15541/jim20240043

Abstract

Abstract:

Microstructure, particle size and specific surface area of TiO₂ are crucial factors influencing its photocatalytic activity. Mesocrystals represent a type of superstructural material formed by inorganic nanoparticles aligned along a common crystallographic axis, holding significant research potential in the field of photocatalysis. This study employed ammonium hexafluorotitanate and boric acid as titanium precursor and fluorine ion scavenger, respectively, and used a blend of anhydrous ethanol and deionized water as reaction medium. NH₄TiOF₃ mesocrystals precursors were prepared by a facile green method. Subsequently, washing with boric acid solution enabled the transformation of NH₄TiOF₃ mesocrystals into TiO₂ mesocrysals through topotaxial conversion. Ultimately, the TiO₂ mesocrystals were functionalized with ZIF-8 nanoparticles, and the photocatalytic degradation activity of the obtained ZIF-8/TiO₂ composite mesocrystals was studied. The experimental results shows that ZIF-8 nanoparticles can uniformly nucleate on the surface of TiO₂ mesocrystals, resulting in a relatively dense coating layer. ZIF-8/TiO₂ composite photocatalyst exhibits a higher specific surface area and a narrower band gap. Meanwhile, the separation efficiency of photogenerated electrons and holes is also improved to a certain extent. Notably, the sample M-TiZIF-2 (with addition of 4 mmol Zn(NO₃)₂) demonstrated superior photocatalytic activity, and achieved a first-order reaction rate of 42-fold that of TiO₂mesocrystals and 16-fold that of pristine ZIF-8 nanoparticles. In conclusion, the synergistic effect of ZIF-8 nanoparticles and TiO₂ mesocrystals significantly augments the photocatalytic performance of the ZIF-8/TiO₂ composite mesocrystal materials.

Key words: TiO₂ mesocrystal, ZIF-8 nanoparticle, photocatalysis, composite mesocrystal

CLC Number:

TB332

MA Binbin, ZHONG Wanling, HAN Jian, CHEN Liangyu, SUN Jingjing, LEI Caixia. ZIF-8/TiO₂ Composite Mesocrystals: Preparation and Photocatalytic Activity[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2024, 39(8): 937-944.

Figures/Tables 10

Fig. 1 XRD patterns of the samples

Fig. 2 SEM morphologies of the samples (a) M-TiO2; (b) ZIF-8; (c) M-TiZIF-1; (d) M-TiZIF-2; (e) M-TiZIF-3; (f) M-TiZIF-4

Fig. 3 TEM images of the samples (a, b) M-TiO2; (c, d) M-TiZIF-2

Fig. 4 (a) Nitrogen adsorption-desorption curves, (b) pore size distributions, (c) specific surface areas, and (d) pore volumes of the samples Colorful figures are available on website

Fig. 5 (a) UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra and (b) relationship between band gap energy (αhν)1/2 and energy (hν) of the samples Colorful figures are available on website

Fig. 6 (a-f) UV-Vis spectra of methylene blue solution degraded by different catalysts under illumination, (g, h) changes of (g) degradation rate and (h) fitted plots of ln(Ct/C0) with time Colorful figures are available on website

Fig. 7 (a) Photocurrent-time curves and (b) Nyquist curves of M-TiO2, ZIF-8 and M-TiZIF-2

Fig. 8 PL spectra for M-TiO2, ZIF-8 and M-TiZIF-2 Colorful figure is available on website

Fig. 9 Degradation rate curves of methylene blue by four- cycle photocatalytic degradation of sample M-TiZIF-2

Fig. 10 SEM images of M-TiZIF-2 photocatalyst (a, b) before and (c, d) after cyclic degradation of methylene blue

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ZIF-8/TiO₂ Composite Mesocrystals: Preparation and Photocatalytic Activity

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