Fabrication of Ce doped UiO-66/graphene nanocomposites with enhanced visible light driven photoactivity for reduction of nitroaromatic compounds

This study investigates the photocatalytic reduction of nitroaromatic compounds upon visible light over novel Ce-doped UiO-66/graphene nanocomposites. Ce doped UiO-66 nanostructures and the corresponding graphene hybridized nanocomposites were facilely synthesized by means of one step solvothermal reaction. It has been demonstrated that produced nanocomposites could be used as highly efficient and chemical stable photocatalysts for the reduction of nitroaromatic compounds under visible irradiation and ambient conditions. Compared with the bare UiO-66, Ce-UiO-66/GR distinctly enhanced photocatalytic activity. Ce as “mediator” introduced into the MOFs materials can greatly improve the electron transfer across the interface between grephene and the UiO-66 and further improve the visible light driven photoactivity. This is an effective strategy for the development of high photocatalytic activity MOFs based materials.