Nanoarchitectonic MOF-derived materials for enhanced photocatalytic activity in organic contaminant removal: A review

Abstract

Environmental pollution, particularly from organic contaminants, poses significant challenges to global sustainability, necessitating the development of efficient and eco-friendly remediation technologies. Photocatalytic degradation has emerged as a promising solution, with metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) gaining attention due to their high surface areas, tunable porosity, and compositional flexibility. This review aims to explore the potential of MOF-derived materials, such as mono- and bimetallic MOF-based hetero-nano-architectures (HNAs) (e.g., MIL-125(Ti), ZIF-8, Fe-MOF, MIL-68(In), ZIF-67, Ce-MOF, Bi-MOF, and Co/Fe-based MOFs), for enhancing photocatalytic activity in the removal of organic pollutants. The novelty of this work lies in its focus on MOF-derived carbon materials and their integration with graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) to form heterostructure composites, which offer superior light absorption, charge separation, and pollutant degradation efficiency. The review is structured into two key sections: (1) mono/bimetallic MOF-derived semiconductors and (2) g-C₃N₄-based MOF heterostructure composites, highlighting their exceptional performance in degrading contaminants such as dyes, antibiotics, and pharmaceuticals. Results demonstrate that these materials exhibit improved photocatalytic performance, stability, and reusability, making them highly effective for environmental remediation. This work provides valuable insights into the design and application of advanced MOF-derived photocatalysts, paving the way for sustainable solutions to organic pollution.