A new, photothermally active, catalytic
composite (Fe
3
O
4
@PD@UiO-66) based on UiO-66 and
polydopamine (PD) was prepared for the decomposition
of chemical warfare
agents (CWAs).
An iron oxide nanoparticle was introduced to enable rapid recovery
after the reaction. The PD layer enabled conversion of
the absorbed light into heat under infrared (IR) irradiation and increased
the reaction temperature, thereby increasing the reaction rate. Dendrimer-functionalized silica particles (NH
2
-DS) were used as heterogeneous catalyst
regenerators instead of N-ethylmorpholine. Under
IR irradiation, a mixture of Fe
3
O
4
@PD@UiO-66 and NH
2
-DS was effective
as a heterogeneous catalyst for degrading DMNP, with a 5 min half-life
in water. Without IR irradiation, the half-life of DMNP was 45 min
using the same catalyst mixture. Various bases including arginine,
histidine, and D4 were directly modified on the surface
of Fe
3
O
4
@PD@UiO-66 and used without NH
2
-DS or N-ethylmorpholine
in order to compare their reactivities. Furthermore, a mixture of Fe
3
O
4
@PD@UiO-66 and NH
2
-DS was used for the decomposition of nerve agents,
including sarin (GB), soman (GD), and VX, under IR-LED irradiation.
Remarkably, GB was effectively decomposed with a half-life of 4.2
min, and GD demonstrated a half-life of 8.7 min. VX was hydrolyzed
with a half-life of 14.0 min.