Novel photocatalysts for the decomposition of organic dyes based on metal-organic framework compounds

Three novel metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) [Co-2(C10H8N2)][C12H8O(COO)(2)](2), 1, [Ni-2(C10H8N2)(2)][C12H8O( COO)(2)](2)(H2O)-H-., 2, and [Zn-2(C10H8N2)][C12H8O(COO)(2)](2), 3, with three-dimensional structures have been synthesized and characterized. The structures of the three compounds appear somewhat related, formed by the connectivity involving the metal polyhedra (Co4N trigonal bipyramids in 1, NiO4N2 octahedra in 2, and ZnO4 tetrahedra and ZnO3N2 trigonal bipyramids in 3), 4,4'-oxybis(benzoate), and 4,4'-bipyridine. The photocatalytic studies on 1-3 indicate that they are active catalysts for the degradation of orange G, rhodamine B, Remazol Brilliant Blue R and methylene blue. The compounds have also been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, IR, thermogravitmetric analysis, UV-vis, photoluminescence, and magnetic studies.