Effect of monometallic copper on zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 synthesized by hydrothermal method

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which are self-assembled and can be synthesized by the coordination of metal cation/clusters with organics linkers. Copper/zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (Cu/ZIF-8) MOF catalyst was successfully synthesized by reaction of metal sulfates of Cu with ZIF-8 via hydrothermal method. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) exhibits the excellent thermal stability up to 450°C of the Cu/ZIF-8 catalyst. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the ZIF-8 structure and the addition of copper metal. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images exhibit great morphologies which confirms the synthesis of Cu/ZIF-8 catalyst. UV-Vis (Ultraviolet-visible) spectroscopy and DRS (diffuse reflectance spectroscopy) show more absorbance in the visible region of Cu/ZIF-8 and lower band gap energy respectively, which leads to photocatalytic support. Our discoveries investigated a basic and intense approach to photocatalyst without losing their properties.