Application of a water stable zinc(II) glutamate metal organic framework for photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes

Abstract

A water stable metal-organic framework (MOF) having structural formula {[Zn(H₂O)(L)]∙xsolvent}_n (L = glutamate) (1), was prepared in aqueous medium by simple mixing the Zn(II) salt and glutamate ligand at room temperature. The single crystal X-ray diffraction study indicates that 1 crystallizes in an orthorhombic system with a space group of P2₁2₁2₁ in which the Zn(II) center adopts pseudo-octahedral geometry. The bridging interactions through carboxylate groups in 1 generates a 2D structure in 1 comprising of the microporous channels. The UV/Vis diffuse-reflection spectroscopy for 1 had been performed which indicated that MOF possess semiconducting nature with a band gap of 3.23 eV and therefore may be a potential candidate as photocatalyst. The photocatalytic behavior of 1 against photo-degratdation of organic dyes has been investigated. The possible photocatalytic activity of 1 against organic dyes have been addressed using density of states (DOS) calculations.

KEY WORDS: Glutamate, MOF, DOS, Photocatalysis

Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2019, 33(1), 43-50

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v33i1.4