Self-photoreduced Ag0-doped Ag(i)-organic frameworks with efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance

To investigate the facile synthesis strategy for MOF-based plasmonic photocatalysts, an Ag(i)-organic framework [Ag-3(psa)(4,4 '-bpy)(3)]center dot OH center dot 2CH(3)OH center dot 2H(2)O (JLNU-91) was prepared by employing phenylsuccinic acid (H(2)psa) and 4,4 '-bipyridine (4,4 '-bpy) under room temperature. Under the irradiation of UV light, the separated Ag(i) sites in the framework can be reduced to metallic Ag-0, producing a series of Ag-0-doped JLNU-91/x. The photocatalytic experiments indicate that the JLNU-91/x samples display improved photocatalytic activities for the degradation of methyl orange (MO) and the optimal JLNU-91/1 has a 2.2 times higher degradation kinetic constant than pure JLNU-91. The photocurrent responses and EIS plots demonstrate that the SPR effect of the self-reduced Ag-0 promotes the separation of photoinduced electron-hole pairs. Moreover, the electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra and capture experiments reveal that O2-, OH and the holes play important roles in the photodegradation of MO. This work brings a new insight into the development of MOF-based plasmonic photocatalysts.

Automated summary

In this study, an Ag(i)-organic framework [Ag-3(psa)(4,4 '-bpy)(3)]·OH·2CH(3)OH·2H(2)O (JLNU-91) was synthesized using phenylsuccinic acid and 4,4'-bipyridine at room temperature, showing improved photocatalytic activities for the degradation of methyl orange. The self-reduced Ag-0's surface plasmon resonance effect promoted the separation of photoinduced electron-hole pairs, playing a crucial role in the photodegradation of MO.