Eu-Based MOF/graphene oxide composite: a novel photocatalyst for the oxidation of benzyl alcohol using water as oxygen source

A novel Eu metal–organic framework graphene oxide composite noted as MOF@GO has been synthesized and successfully employed as a photocatalyst for the oxidation of benzyl alcohol using water as an oxygen source. The results show that graphene oxide (GO) not only acts as a structure-directing agent in controlling the morphology of MIL@GO composites but also minimizes the recombination of photogenerated electron–hole pairs to enhance photocatalytic activity. A possible photocatalytic reaction mechanism shows that water is essential for the photocatalytic oxidation, reacting with photo-generated holes to produce molecular oxygen or other active species intermediate in the oxidation of benzyl alcohol.