Iron doped zeolitic imidazolate framework (Fe-ZIF-8): synthesis and photocatalytic degradation of RDB dye in Fe-ZIF-8

• Published in: Journal of porous materials 2018-06, Vol.25 (3), p.857-869
• Main Authors: Thanh, Mai Thi, Thien, Tran Vinh, Du, Pham Dinh, Hung, Nguyen Phi, Khieu, Dinh Quang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Catalysis; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Physical Chemistry
• ISSN: 1380-2224; 1573-4854
• DOI: 10.1007/s10934-017-0498-7

This paper presents a study on the synthesis of iron doped ZIF-8 with different molar ratio of Zn/Fe (Fe-ZIF-8) and sunlight driven photocatalytic activity of obtained materials. The materials were characteristic of X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms, diffusive reflectance UV–Vis (DR-UV–Vis) and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The results showed that Fe(II) as iron source could be directly introduced into ZIF-8 to form Fe-ZIF-8. Depending on the amount of iron(II) introduced, the Fe(II) or both Fe(II) and Fe(III) may exist in ZIF-8. Fe-ZIF-8 was selected as photocatalyst to decompose Remazol deep black B (RDB), a model of dye contaminant, under sunlight illumination. Undoped ZIF-8 seems not to catalyze for degradation of RDB while Fe-ZIF-8 exhibited sunlight-driven photocatalytic degradation of RDB. The kinetics of photocatalytic reaction were also addressed. This study suggests iron doped zeolite-imidazole framework Fe-ZIF-8 to be promising catalyst for the heterogeneous photo-catalytic dye degradation technique in visible region.