Two 3D metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with different structures, [Cu(4,4'-bipy)Cl] (1) and [Co(4,4'-bipy)·(HCOO)] (2), were synthesized by means of a hydrothermal method using a typical ligand (4,4'-bipyridine), and characterized by elemental analyses, thermal analyses and single crystal X-ray diffraction. As MOF materials, the two complexes showed active performance for the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) dye under visible light. MB degradation over the two MOF-based photocatalysts follows first-order kinetics. The addition of an HO electron acceptor can markedly enhance the photocatalytic MB degradation performance via a ligand-to-metal charge transfer mechanism, especially in complex 1. Complex 1 is better than complex 2 in MB photodegradation performance under the same conditions. Moreover, complex 1 showed a stable activity for MB degradation after four consecutive usages. Owing to the advantages of the visible light response, stable structure, low cost and high yield, these MOF-based photocatalysts will facilitate new efforts in environmental purification.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.