Facile synthesis of Ni-ZIF-8 with improved photodegradation performance for methylene blue

A series of bimetallic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) photocatalysts had been successfully synthesized by doping nickel (Ni) into zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) for enhanced photodegradation of methylene blue (MB). Optical characterization revealed that the Ni-ZIF-8 composites possessed a narrower bandgap and lower recombination rate of charge carriers than pristine ZIF-8. The Ni(20)-ZIF-8 composite showed the highest MB photodegradation efficiency of up to 93.22 % in 150 min, with the use of 30 mg photocatalyst, 50 mL of 30 mg/L MB solution, and a neutral pH. The scavenger test clearly proved that h+ and •OH were the main active species. [Display omitted]