Efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic detoxification of a sulfur mustard simulant in air using rose bengal-functionalized MOFs

Abstract

Sulfur mustard, a highly toxic chemical warfare agent, poses a significant threat to human health. Consequently, the development of efficient and rapid decontamination strategies is of paramount importance. However, current degradation methods are often hindered by slow reaction rates and limited selectivity. Herein, we report a facile one-pot in situ self-assembly method to simultaneously modify the photosensitizer rose bengal (RB) into both the cavities and surface of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8), resulting in the formation of the RB@ZIF-8 composite. The RB@ZIF-8 composite demonstrates exceptional singlet oxygen (¹O₂) photosensitization capacity, serving as a visible-light-driven heterogeneous photocatalyst that enables selective oxidation of a sulfur mustard simulant (2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide, CEES) to the corresponding non-toxicity sulfoxide derivative. This system achieves complete conversion within 6 minutes, with a reaction half-life of 2.5 minutes under ambient conditions. Moreover, the composite demonstrates outstanding recyclability and reusability. This work provides a promising strategy for the design of advanced MOF-based heterogeneous photosensitizers, offering a highly efficient, selective, and reusable platform for the rapid detoxification of sulfur mustard under mild conditions.