Synergistic adsorption and photocatalysis over UiO66-NH2/ZnO heterojunction for highly efficient degradation of methylene blue
摘要
This study addresses the critical issues of low photogenerated charge separation efficiency in the UiO66-NH2 and the limited specific surface area and weak visible-light response of ZnO. By constructing a UiO66-NH2/ZnO composite via a hydrothermal-solvent evaporation method, the designed Type II heterojunction integrates the strong adsorption capacity of UiO66-NH2 with the catalytic activity of ZnO, while its heterojunction interface promotes charge separation, thereby establishing an efficient adsorption-photocatalysis synergistic system. The UiO66-NH2/ZnO composite material was systematically characterized using SEM, XRD, XPS, and ESR techniques, while simultaneously investigating its performance in degrading MB under visible light and its cyclic stability. The results indicate that the UiO66-NH2/ZnO composite exhibits higher interfacial charge transfer efficiency and electron–hole pair separation efficiency, with significantly enhanced visible light absorption. Among these, the UZ140-50 composite exhibited the highest photocatalytic degradation activity, achieving an MB degradation rate as high as 94%—four times that of ZnO. Furthermore, the degradation rate of this composite remained above 90% even after three cycles of testing, indicating its excellent cycling stability. Mechanistic analysis reveals that the significant improvement in the composite’s performance stems from the synergistic interaction between the adsorption and enrichment effect of UiO66-NH2 and the efficient spatial separation of charges driven by the Type II heterojunction. This study provides an effective strategy for the design and development of high-performance MOF-based photocatalysts.