A zinc-based metal–organic framework with a triazine moiety: effective detection of antibiotics and photodegradation dyes in aqueous solution

Abstract

A zinc-based metal–organic framework was constructed by a solvothermal synthesis approach with the formula {[Zn₃(ttta)₂(H₂O)₄]}_n (1–Zn) (where H₃ttta = 4,4′,4′′-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triazinediyl) triazinic acid) and was successfully characterized. In terms of photocatalytic degradation, complex 1–Zn has a smaller energy band gap and higher degradation efficiency compared to many other Zn-MOFs, and it has good stability and recyclability. Fluorescence detection experiments showed that complex 1–Zn showed significant specificity in recognition of quinolone antibiotics compared to other antibiotics and showed a better fluorescence quenching rate of metronidazole (MDZ) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH). The photodegradation mechanism was investigated by ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS) and valence band X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (VB-XPS). A reasonable mechanism of the fluorescent probe and photodegradation of 1–Zn was determined by density functional theory calculations.