Surfactant-free synthesis of a Fe3O4@ZIF-8 core-shell heterostructure for adsorption of methylene blue

Nanoscale porous metal-organic frameworks and related materials have received considerable attention in recent years due to their widespread applications. However, the effective synthesis of magnetic core-shell MOFs still remains a significant challenge. In this article, a Fe3O4@ZIF-8 core-shell nanostructure with unique morphology, a large specific surface area, excellent thermal stability, and superparamagnetic properties is reported. Additionally, instead of using organic surfactants, a surfactant-free and facile synthesis route is successfully developed. The ZIF-8 shell thickness can be precisely controlled by altering the number of growth cycles. Fe3O4@ZIF-8 shows good adsorption properties for MB, with maximum adsorption capacity of 20.2 mg g(-1).