MoO3 nanoparticle formation on zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 by rotary chemical vapor deposition

For the first time, MoO3 nanoparticles (NPs) with a size ranging from 1.5 to 60 nm were deposited on spray dried zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) by rotary chemical vapor deposition (RCVD) in order to improve its photocatalytic performance. A direct effect of the deposition time on the metal oxide loading was observed. In a time frame between 0.9 and 2.7 ks the metal oxide loading can be increased from 1 to 3 wt%. All the MoO3-NPs/ZIF-8 catalysts were tested towards the methylene blue photodegradation using sunlight. MoO3-NPs/ZIF-8 3 wt% RCVD reached a conversion of 82% and 95% after 180 and 300 min, respectively.