Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are porous inorganic networks that have recently shown potential in energy applications as photocatalysts. The porosity of MOFs make them excellent for guest-host interactions, however, most MOFs are slightly insulating due to metal oxide nodes, resulting in larger band gaps and poor conductivity. In order to combat these issues, post-synthetic modifications (PSM) can be used to slightly alter MOF properties. In this study, PSM’s were introduced to zirconium-based MOFs with UiO topology, such as UiO-66 and UiO-66-NH2, to improve their ability to photocatalytically degrade organic dyes through the addition of polyaniline nanofibers and cerium(IV) metal substitution. The performance of these modified UiO MOFs were compared relative to one another to assess how different PSM’s alter MOF performance in photocatalysis. In addition, titanium-based MOFs, such as (Ti)MIL-125-NH2, were compared to modified UiO MOFs to investigate MOFs with metal nodes that are more semiconducting. Each MOF was characterized using BET surface area analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction. The conductivity of different UiO MOFs were compared using cyclic voltammetry. The relative photocatalytic properties of each MOF was determined by monitoring their efficiency for photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B and phenol red dyes in solution under controlled environments.

Synthesis and analysis of titanium and zirconium based metal organic frameworks and nanoparticles for photocatalysis

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