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Novel SnO2@Cu3(BTC)2 Composites as a Highly Efficient Photocatalyst and Fluorescent Sensor

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Abstract

A novel SnO2@Cu3(BTC)2 composite was synthesized using a quick and affordable bottom-up approach via impregnation of SnO2 nanoparticles into the porous Cu3(BTC)2 metal-organic framework (MOF). This composite material is characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) spectra, scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. SnO2@Cu3(BTC)2 degraded the methylene blue (MB) dye within 80 min under sunlight with a maximum degradation efficiency of 85.12%. This composite easily recyclable up to five cycles with the retention of its MB degradation efficiency. Moreover, SnO2@Cu3(BTC)2 can be also used efficiently for fast sensing of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) in water with noticeable turn-off quenching response. Its limits of detection (LOD) for TNP was 2.82 µM with enhanced selectivity toward TNP (over other NACs) as verified by competitive nitro explosive tests. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and spectral overlap were used to assess the sensing mechanism. This composite fluorescent sensing system for TNP are demonstrated to have high selectivity and sensitivity. Our findings imply that the prepared low cost SnO2@Cu3(BTC)2 composite can be used as a superior fluorescence sensor and photo catalyst for large scale industrial applications.

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Data and material information is provided and will be shared on request.

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Acknowledgements

One of the author, Deepika is grateful to University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, India, for providing junior research fellowship.

Funding

The authors did not receive support from any organization for the submitted work and have no financial or non- financial interests to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Punjabi University, Patiala-147 002, Punjab, India

    Deepika, Manpreet Kaur & Ashok Kumar Malik

  2. GSSDGS Khalsa College, Patiala-147 001, Punjab, India

    Heena

  3. Department of Physics, Punjabi University, Patiala-147 002, Punjab, India

    Karamjit Singh

Authors
  1. Deepika
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  2. Heena
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  3. Manpreet Kaur
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  4. Karamjit Singh
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  5. Ashok Kumar Malik
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Contributions

Deepika: Performed the experimentation. Heena and Manpreet Kaur,: Helped in performing the experiments. Karamjit Singh Dhaliwal and Ashok Kumar Malik: Helped in writing and supervised the research work.

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Correspondence to Ashok Kumar Malik.

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Highlights

• Using a bottom-up approach, a unique SnO2@Cu3(BTC)2 composite has been prepared.

• Experiments demonstrate that this composite degrade 85.12% of methylene blue (MB) dye within 80 minutes.

• Additionally, this composite also sensitively and selectively detects 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) in water via turn-off quenching response.

• The turn-off quenching response of this composite can be explained by photo-induced Electron Transfer (PET) and fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) mechanisms.

• Theoretical density functional theory (DFT) calculations were done to provide strong support to the experimental results.

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Deepika, Heena, Kaur, M. et al. Novel SnO2@Cu3(BTC)2 Composites as a Highly Efficient Photocatalyst and Fluorescent Sensor. J Fluoresc 33, 2415–2429 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10895-023-03232-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10895-023-03232-0

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