Issue 23, 2025, Issue in Progress

Photoelectrochemical properties of magnetic amine-based MIL-101(Cr) hybrid material and its application in the degradation of acebutolol in water

Abstract

Rapid advances in industries and agricultural practices have recently released various toxic pollutants into aquatic systems. Among other pollutants, pharmaceuticals, have been detected in environmental aquatic systems at levels that have negative health impacts on both humans and animals. This study employed an in situ chemical co-precipitation method to fabricate a magnetic amine-based metal organic framework nanocomposite. This nanocomposite was successfully synthesised and applied as a photocatalytic material for the mineralization of acebutolol (ACE) in water. The prepared materials, including the nanocomposite (Fe3O4@NH2-MIL-101(Cr)) were characterised using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). The optoelectronic properties were determined using photoluminescence (PL), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS) and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. The photocatalytic efficacy of the nanocomposite was assessed via the degradation of acebutolol under visible light illumination. The results indicate that adsorption–desorption equilibrium was attained after 60 min in the dark, and 98.3% degradation efficiency was achieved after 180 min with the light on. According to scavenging experiments, superoxide radicals (·O2) were the main reactive oxygen species (ROS) during photodegradation. The Nyquist plot obtained from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) showed that the Fe3O4@NH2-MIL-101(Cr) nanocomposite had a reduced charge transfer resistance (Rct), indicating separation and accelerated transfer of charges at the interface. The obtained electron lifespan (τe) supported the results, and was found to be higher for Fe3O4@NH2-MIL-101(Cr) compared to NH2-MIL-101(Cr) and pure Fe3O4. The photocatalytic mechanism revealed that the formed heterojunction followed a Z-scheme mechanism.

Graphical abstract: Photoelectrochemical properties of magnetic amine-based MIL-101(Cr) hybrid material and its application in the degradation of acebutolol in water

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
20 Apr 2025
Accepted
19 May 2025
First published
30 May 2025
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

RSC Adv., 2025,15, 17986-17999

Photoelectrochemical properties of magnetic amine-based MIL-101(Cr) hybrid material and its application in the degradation of acebutolol in water

N. J. Waleng, T. S. Munonde, A. Mpupa, T. Moremedi, Y. Zhang and P. N. Nomngongo, RSC Adv., 2025, 15, 17986 DOI: 10.1039/D5RA02767E

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