Synthesis of BiOI/ZnFe2O4–Metal–Organic Framework and g‑C3N4‑Based Nanocomposites for Applications in Photocatalysis

• Published in: Industrial & engineering chemistry research Vol. 58; no. 23; pp. 9806 - 9818
• Main Authors: Khasevani, S. Gholizadeh, Gholami, M. R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Chemical Society 12-06-2019
• ISSN: 0888-5885; 1520-5045
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.8b05871

A novel binary BiOI/ZnFe2O4 (BZ) with p–n heterojunction based on the different metal-organic framework (MOF) MIL-88B­(Fe) and graphite carbon nitride (g-C3N4) as substrates has been designed. As-prepared ternary nanocomposites have been first obtained via a simple hydrothermal system and subsequently deposited onto the MOF and g-C3N4 substrates. The photoactivity of the ternary nanocomposites was evaluated by organic pollutants degradation under LED light. These characterization results indicated that BiOI as a p-type semiconductor was well deposited on the surface of ZnFe2O4 (n-type semiconductors). The p–n heterojunction photocatalyst (BZ) improved the valence band potential of ZnFe2O4 and enhanced the removal efficiency compared to the ZnFe2O4 and BiOI. The electron-accepting and transporting properties of MOF and g-C3N4 have illustrated the excellent suppression of the recombination of e–/h+ pairs thereby promoting organic dye degradation. On the basis of the electrical analysis (EIS) and photocurrent, it can be found that the enhanced charge carrier transfer of g-C3N4 correlates with the photoactivity. The results showed that •O2 – and •OH as reactive oxygen species have a key role in the toxic dyes and phenol decomposition under LED light.