Fabrication of In2O3/Co3O4-palygorskite composites by the pyrolysis of In/Co-MOFs for efficient degradation of methylene blue and tetracycline

A facile method for fabrication of In2O3/Co3O4@palygorskite composites from a Co/In-based metal organic framework (MOF) was reported. First, Co/In-MOFs hybridized with palygorskite (PAL) was prepared via a one-pot solvothermal method. Second, In2O3/Co3O4@PAL composites were obtained by pyrolysis of In2O3/Co3O4@PAL in air. It was found that the In2O3/Co3O4@PAL composite exhibited higher photocatalytic activities than In2O3/Co3O4 to the degradation of MB and TC under visible-light irradiation. About 99% of MB (within 40 min) and 80% of TC (within 120 min) were degraded using In2O3/Co3O4@5.0% PAL as catalyst. It was supposed that the efficient adsorption of MB and TC, and electrostatic interactions between electron-hole and PAL were responsible for such improvement. The photocatalytic degradation mechanisms of MB and TC on the In2O3/Co3O4@PAL were investigated. This work shows that hybridization MOFs with PAL could enhance the photocatalytic properties of MOFs-derived metal oxides for water treatment. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.