Enhancement of photocatalytic performance in two zinc-based metal-organic frameworks by solvent assisted linker exchange

Solvent-assisted linker exchange (SALE) was performed on two pillared metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), [Zn-2(oba)(2)(4-bpdb)](n)center dot(DMF)(2) (TMU-4) and [Zn(oba)(4-bpmb)(0.5)](n)center dot(DMF)(1.5) (TMU-6), to tune their photocatalytic properties. The pillar ligands were successfully replaced in these MOFs to generate daughter MOFs TMU-4' and TMU-6', which possess higher BET surface areas. Moreover, a study was performed to examine the photocatalytic performance of these parent and daughter MOFs in photoreduction of Cr(VI) under visible light irradiation. Finally, the reduction mechanism was investigated by using various scavengers including AgNO3, t-butyl alcohol, BQ and ammonium oxalate.