Construction of mixed-dimensional metal-organic frameworks-based heterojunction with enhanced carrier separation for tetracycline degradation by photocatalytic activation of PMS

Abstract

Metal - organic frameworks (MOFs), which are regarded as a type of materials possessing semiconductor - like characteristics, have been widely applied in the realm of photocatalysis. However, their restricted capacity to absorb visible light and the inefficiency of charge carrier separation severely impede their catalytic efficacy. In this research, we put forward a novel approach to fabricating a mixed - dimensional CoS/MIL - 68(In) heterojunction photocatalyst. This is accomplished by attaching two - dimensional CoS nanosheets to three - dimensional MIL - 68(In) MOF nanotubes. This sophisticated catalyst exhibited outstanding performance in the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline with the aid of peroxymonosulfate. It attained a remarkable degradation rate of 94.4 % within 40 min. The uniformly distributed CoS nanosheets, characterized by their small dimensions, have established numerous robust interfacial contacts with the MIL - 68(In) framework, which substantially enhances the charge transfer efficiency. Experimental findings have confirmed that the CoS/MIL - 68(In) heterojunction exhibits enhanced photoresponse and facilitates efficient charge - carrier separation and mobility. This work provides a new perspective on the exploration of high - efficiency MOFs - based materials for the removal of persistent organic contaminants and other practical environmental applications.