Magnetically separable Fe3O4 NPs/MIL-53(Al) nanocomposite catalyst for intrinsic OPD oxidation and colorimetric hydrogen peroxide detection

Herein, we demonstrate the synthesis of Fe3O4 nanoparticles based metal organic framework MIL-53(Al) nanocomposite [Fe3O4 NPs/MIL-53(Al)] (MIL stands for Material of the Institut Lavoisier) via a facile chemical approach. The fabrication method of nanocomposite is based on the in-situ synthesis of MIL-53(Al) on the surface of pre-synthesized Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The structural features of as-synthesised nanocomposite were elucidated by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), optical properties, Fourier transform Infra-Red (FTIR) spectroscopy and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). The nanocomposite exhibited excellent catalytic performance towards intrinsic peroxide oxidation of o-phenylenediamine (OPD). Fe3O4 NPs/MIL-53(Al) nanocomposite was also used for the colorimetric detection of hydrogen peroxide and exhibited detection limit of 0.8499 mu mol L (-1). Moreover, the nanocomposite was magnetically separable with commercially available magnet and showed significant catalytic stability after six successive cycles.

Automated summary

A Fe3O4 nanoparticles-based metal organic framework MIL-53(Al) nanocomposite was synthesized via a facile chemical approach, demonstrating excellent catalytic performance and colorimetric detection capability for hydrogen peroxide with magnetic separability and catalytic stability.