The in situ synthesis of sunlight-driven Chitosan/MnO2@MOF-801 nanocomposites for photocatalytic reduction of Rhodamine-B

Zirconium-fumaric based metal organic framework (MOF-801) was synthesised by ultra-sonication method. After synthesis, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), UV/Vis spectrophotometer and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), were used for its functional group identification. For its structural morphology and elemental composition scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and energy dispersive scanning (EDS) analysis was carried out. After typical characterization, photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (Rh-B) was examined under sunlight by using Zr-fumaric MOF-801 as photocatalyst and revealed the satisfactory results. The MnO2@MOF-801 and MnO2@MOF-801/Chitosan composite were also synthesized with same ultrasonication method. It was concluded from this study that MnO2@MOF-801/Chitosan composite has the good photocatalytic activity about 95 % against the Rhodamine B (Rh-B) in contrast with Zr-fumaric MOF-801 (71 %) and MnO2@MOF-801 (86 %) after 45 min of reaction. Valence band (VB) gap and conduction band (CB) corresponding to light-induced transition are used to suggest catalytic mechanism. This newly synthesized non-reported MnO2@MOF-801/Chitosan composite as a good photocatalyst initiate the new way for the development of others non-reported MOF coated biopolymer with enhanced photocatalyst activity as an environmental remediation for the control of water pollution.