Efficient and selective removal of Congo red by a C@Mo composite nanomaterial using a citrate-based coordination polymer as the precursor

Abstract

To research the effect of structural diversity on citrate-based coordination polymers (CPs), citric acid (H₄cit) was selected to combine with Cu(II) under hydrothermal conditions. A new CP [Cu₂(cit)(H₂O)₂] (1) was synthesized and structurally characterized. The title complex shows a 3D 2,4,6-connected topology with the point symbol of {4³·6³}{4⁴·6⁶·8⁵}{4}. Inspired by the decomposition and functional molybdenum component, 1 was used as a catalyst precursor to synthesize a carbon-based material (C-1) and a C@Mo material (C-Mo-1) by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method and characterized in detail. The selective removal of a contaminant (Congo red) by complex 1, C-1 and C-Mo-1 in the aqueous phase was also comparatively investigated.