Nanosized Functional MOFs Loading Ag/AgBr with Throughout-Visible-Light Absorption for High-Efficiency Photocatalysis: Nanosized Functional MOFs Loading Ag/AgBr with Throughout-Visible-Light Absorption for High-Efficiency Photocatalysis

Porous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) loading metal nanoparticles to form a composite photocatalyst demonstrated unique advantages. Modification of the electron donating group on the aromatic linkers of MOFs could increase the absorption range of light, thereby increasing the photocatalytic activity. In this study, we prepared a composite photocatalyst using a stable NH2-functionalized MOF (UiO-66-NH2) to load semiconductor Ag/AgBr nanoparticles, and the resultant composites have intense optical absorption throughout visible light range. The greatly enhanced optical absorption and the unique hetero-junction between Ag/AgBr and UiO-66-NH2 render efficient separation and utilization of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Therefore, Ag/AgBr@UiO-66-NH2 showed much more excellent photocatalytic activity, compared with unmodified UiO-66 loading Ag/AgBr (Ag/AgBr@UiO-66) and reported AgX@MOF catalysts. Moreover, the composite photocatalysts showed excellent stability during cycling experiment.