One-pot synthesis of NH2-MIL-101(Fe) and α – Fe2O3 composite as efficient heterojunction for multifunctional photocatalytic membranes: Towards zero waste generation

Here in, one-pot synthesis of amine functionalized iron-based Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) namely NH2-MIL-101(Fe) is systematically tuned such that it also results in formation of morphology-oriented iron-oxide (α-Fe2O3) along with MOF, without adding any additional precursor. Ligand deficiency facilitates the free amine group of ligands to drive the formation of metal oxide (MO). This composite of MO and MOF behaves as a heterojunction that efficiently separates charge carriers and allows good photocatalytic activity, with more than 95 % degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye. The composite was then integrated into nanofiber membranes for water treatment, it resulted in overall 94 % rejection, with 20 % of MB being degraded simultaneously during this rejection and, this can be considered as fairly good for an emerging process that comprises of simultaneous degradation and separation. The new thermally stable and self-cleaning heterojunction MOF membranes developed in this study have sparked hopes as promising materials for near to zero waste generation in water treatment. [Display omitted] •Ligand deficiency during NH2-MIL-101(Fe) synthesis drives the formation of α-Fe2O3.•Fe-MOF and α-Fe2O3 behave as a heterojunction causing good charge separation.•Basic understanding of stoichiometric deficiency strategy in reticular chemistry.•Design of easy, robust photocatalytic MOF separation membranes.•Successfully achieved simultaneous rejection and photodegradation of pollutants.