Photocatalytic Cr(VI) reduction in metal-organic frameworks: A mini-review

This mini-review presented photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) into Cr(III) in some MOFs or their derivatives/composites. The reported examples are collected and analyzed; and the reaction mechanism, the influence of various factors on the photocatalytic performance, the involved challenges, and the outlooks of MOFs as photocatalyst to carry out Cr(VI) reduction are discussed. It can be found that the optical properties of MOFs can be flexible modulated via incorporation into NH2 group, conductor photocatalysts like ZnO and metal sulfides nanoparticles, noble metal nanoparticles and graphene oxide (GO). It is clear that MOFs have a bright prospective in the fields of photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI), or even dual functional photcatalysts to carry out Cr(VI) reduction and organic pollutants degradation under visible light irradiation.