Sustainable synthesis of a mixed-metal MOF: a visible light responsive photocatalyst for the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohols

Abstract

The development photocatalysts has proved to be an outstanding tool for using the infinite energy of sunlight. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have proved to be auspicious substitute materials as photocatalysts. Herein, a facile and convenient method for the fabrication of a mixed-metal organic framework (MM-MOF) [Fe₂CoO(TPBTM₆)(H₂O)₃]_n (Fe₂CoMOF) [H₆TPBTM: N,N′,N′′-tris(isophthalyl)-1,3,5-benzenetricarboxamide] was studied through a facile solvothermal method. The co-existence of Fe³⁺ and Co²⁺ led to fantastic photocatalytic performance from the MOF. Fe₂Co-MOF showed high ability in benzyl alcohol oxidation with exceptional benzaldehyde selectivity under visible light at room temperature, along with greatly improved yield compared with Fe-MOF as a single metal cluster MOF (93.5% yield in 12 h). To gain a better understanding of the benzyl alcohol oxidation process, systematic examinations were undertaken to reveal the roles of alcohol and MOF in the photocatalytic reaction. The structure also showed great stability and recyclability during the process.