Efficient photocatalysis-Fenton for degradation of rhodamine B and inhibition of bacteria by core-shell Fe3O4 @UiO-66-NH2 nanospheres

Core-shell Fe3O4 @UiO-66-NH2 nanospheres with superior photocatalytic activity and photo-Fenton performance were synthesized using a layer-by-layer growth strategy. The synthesis involved the use of FeCl3, trisodium citrate, sodium acetate, ZrCl4, and 2-aminoterephthalic acid as raw materials, with mercaptoacetic acid serving as a modifier. Fe3O4 @UiO-66-NH2 demonstrated improved visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance in the oxidation degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) in the presence of trace amounts of H2O2 under visible light irradiation. The Fe(II)/Fe(III) cycle was accelerated by the transfer of the photogenerated electrons (e-) from UiO-66-NH2 to Fe3O4, which in turn encouraged the Fenton reaction to produce hydroxyl radicals (•OH). With only 10 mmol/L H2O2, the removal rate of RhB approached 94% in 120 min. Furthermore, when exposed to visible light, Fe3O4 @UiO-66-NH2 exhibited 99% efficacious antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Overall, the as-prepared Fe3O4 @UiO-66-NH2 core-shell nanospheres show promise for practical applications as photocatalysts for the degradation of organic pollutants and the inactivation of bacteria in wastewater.