Tailoring the Optical Absorption of Water-Stable ZrIV- and HfIV- Based Metal-Organic Framework Photocatalysts

New Zr-IV- and Hf-IV-based metal-organic framework photocatalysts, termed VNU-1 and VNU-2 (where VNU=Vietnam National University), were synthesized and their resulting structures fully characterized. By employing a highly pi-conjugated linker, namely 1,4-bis(2-[4-carboxyphenyl]ethynyl) benzene, the optical absorption properties were effectively red-shifted into the visible light region. This strategy, coupled with the high water stability of the materials, led to enhanced MOF-driven photocatalytic degradation, under ultraviolet-visible light, of organic dye pollutants commonly found in wastewater.