1D CuBi2O4@2D UiO-66-NH2 Core–Shell Nanostructures for Photodegradation of Tetracycline Hydrochloride

Unidimensional (1D) CuBi2O4@two-dimensional (2D) UiO-66-NH2 core–shell nanostructures were rationally fabricated by decorating thin-layered UiO-66-NH2 on the surface of CuBi2O4 nanorods for improving photodegradation activities toward removing tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH). A high tetracycline TCH photodegradation efficiency was achieved for the CuBi2O4@UiO-66-NH2(0.2) sample, with a kinetic degradation constant of up to 0.0126 min–1, which is 6.49 and 4.51 times higher than those of bare CuBi2O4 and UiO-66-NH2, respectively, because of the greatly enhanced charge-separation efficiency. Recycling experiments for TCH photodegradation reveal that the CuBi2O4@UiO-66-NH2(0.2) sample is recyclable and relatively stable. The synthesized CuBi2O4@UiO-66-NH2(0.2) sample also exhibits photodegradation activities for the removal of other pharmacologically active compounds (PACs), such as ceftiofur sodium (CS), ciprofloxacin (CIP), and cephalexin (CPX). The efficient charge transfer and improved photocatalytic activity could be attributed to the Z-scheme charge transfer and were verified by band structure analyses, radical-trapping experiments, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra. This investigation could push the design and fabrication of a series of metal–organic frameworks-based core–shell nanostructures toward practical applications of PACs removal.