Core-shell dual-MOF heterostructures derived magnetic CoFe_2O_4/CuO (sub) microcages with superior catalytic performance

摘要

The high performance of catalysts relies largely on the meticulous design of hierarchical hollow microanostructures with more active sites and superb structural tenability. Herein, we developed a simple strategy to design and fabricate CoFe2O4/CuO (sub)microcages using core-shell dual-MOF heterostructures (Fe-II-Co PBAs@HKUST-1) as both the precursor and self-sacrificing template. The derivation of metal oxide composites from dual-MOF heterostructures is challenging, and this method could overcome the difficulty caused by the possible lattice mismatch between the different MOFs. Uniform core-shell dual-MOF structures Fe-II-Co PBAs@HKUST-1 were first fabricated and then converted to CoFe2O4/CuO (sub)microcages by thermal annealing in air. The resulting CoFe2O4/CuO (sub)microcages were extensively characterized and exhibited remarkable catalytic performance with an excellent stability and magnetic recyclability for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol by NaBH4. In addition, CoFe2O4/CuO (sub)microcages were also found to be highly active for catalytic reduction of methylene blue (MB) by NaBH4 in an aqueous solution. The results show that CoFe2O4/CuO (sub)microcages have potential application for organic pollutants degradation and environmental rehabilitation.