One-step synthesis of triazine-based covalent organic frameworks at room temperature for efficient photodegradation of bisphenol A under visible light irradiation

Abstract

Herein, a novel visible-light-responsive photocatalyst with high efficiency was firstly synthesized at room temperature. The mild synthetic method resulted in a uniform spherical triazine-based covalent organic framework (TrCOF2) with ultra-high specific surface area as well as chemical stability. Due to the synergistic effect between the self-assembled uniform spherical structure and the abundant triazine-based structure, photoelectron–hole pairs were efficiently separated and migrated on the catalysts. On this basis, TrCOF2 was successfully applied to efficiently degrade bisphenol A (BPA). More than 98% of BPA was deraded after 60 min of visible light treatment, where the active specie of •O₂ ⁻ played a vital role during the degradation of BPA. The holes of TrCOF2 could produce O₂ by direct reaction with water or hydroxide ions. Simultaneously, photoelectrons can be captured by O₂ to generate •O₂ ⁻. Moreover, density functional theory (DFT) calculations proved the outstanding ability of the exciting electronic conductivity. Remarkably, a reasonable photocatalytic mechanism for TrCOF2 catalysts was proposed. This research can provide a facile strategy for the synthesis of TrCOFs catalysts at room temperature, which unfolds broad application prospects in the environmental field.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

photocatalysis / triazine-based covalent organic framework / visible light / pollutant degradation / catalytic mechanism

References

[1] Zhang S, Gu P, Ma R, . Recent developments in fabrication and structure regulation of visible-light-driven g-C₃N₄-based photocatalysts towards water purification: a critical review.Catalysis Today, 2019, 335: 65–77

[2] Chen P, Di S, Qiu X, . One-step synthesis of F-TiO₂/g-C₃N₄ heterojunction as highly efficient visible-light-active catalysts for tetrabromobisphenol A and sulfamethazine degradation.Applied Surface Science, 2022, 587: 152889

[3] Yu S, Tang H, Zhang D, . MXenes as emerging nanomaterials in water purification and environmental remediation.Science of the Total Environment, 2022, 811: 152280

[4] Chen J, Tong T, Yang Y, . In-situ active Bisphenol A-degrading microorganisms in mangrove sediments.Environmental Research, 2022, 206: 112251

[5] Ning T, Yang H, Shi C, . An in vitro assessment for human skin exposure to parabens using magnetic solid phase extraction coupled with HPLC.Chemosphere, 2022, 286: 131593

[6] Tang H, Li R, Fan X, . A novel S-scheme heterojunction in spent battery-derived ZnFe₂O₄/g-C₃N₄ photocatalyst for enhancing peroxymonosulfate activation and visible light degradation of organic pollutant.Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2022, 10(3): 107797

[7] Li Q, Chen Z, Wang H, . Removal of organic compounds by nanoscale zero-valent iron and its composites.Science of the Total Environment, 2021, 792: 148546

[8] Barboza L G A, Cunha S C, Monteiro C, . Bisphenol A and its analogs in muscle and liver of fish from the North East Atlantic Ocean in relation to microplastic contamination.Exposure and risk to human consumers. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2020, 393: 122419

[9] Chu A C, Sahu R S, Chou T H, . Magnetic Fe₃O₄@TiO₂ nanocomposites to degrade bisphenol A, one emerging contaminant, under visible and long wavelength UV light irradiation.Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2021, 9(4): 105539

[10] Qiu M, Liu L, Ling Q, . Biochar for the removal of contaminants from soil and water: a review.Biochar, 2022, 4(1): 19

[11] Qiu M, Hu B, Chen Z, . Challenges of organic pollutant photocatalysis by biochar-based catalysts.Biochar, 2021, 3(2): 117–123

[12] Wang X, Nag R, Brunton N P, . Human health risk assessment of bisphenol A (BPA) through meat products.Environmental Research, 2022, 213: 113734

[13] Zhang H, Chen X, Zhang Z, . Highly-crystalline triazine-PDI polymer with an enhanced built-in electric field for full-spectrum photocatalytic phenol mineralization.Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2021, 287: 119957

[14] Wang Q, Domen K . Particulate photocatalysts for light-driven water splitting: mechanisms, challenges, and design strategies.Chemical Reviews, 2020, 120(2): 919–985

[15] Wang H, Wang H, Wang Z W, . Covalent organic framework photocatalysts: structures and applications.Chemical Society Reviews, 2020, 49(12): 4135–4165

[16] Rodriguez-San-Miguel D, Montoro C, Zamora F . Covalent organic framework nanosheets: preparation, properties and applications.Chemical Society Reviews, 2020, 49(8): 2291–2302

[17] Liang R R, Ru-Han A, Xu S Q, . Fabricating organic nanotubes through selective disassembly of two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks.Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2020, 142(1): 70–74

[18] Yu J, Di S, Ning T, . Rational design and synthesis of magnetic covalent organic frameworks for controlling the selectivity and enhancing the extraction efficiency of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.Mikrochimica Acta, 2020, 187(9): 531

[19] Cote A P, Benin A I, Ockwig N W, . Porous, crystalline, covalent organic frameworks.Science, 2005, 310(5751): 1166–1170

[20] Wang H, Qian C, Liu J, . Integrating suitable linkage of covalent organic frameworks into covalently bridged inorganic/organic hybrids toward efficient photocatalysis.Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2020, 142(10): 4862–4871

[21] Wan Y, Wang L, Xu H, . A simple molecular design strategy for two-dimensional covalent organic framework capable of visible-light-driven water splitting.Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2020, 142(9): 4508–4516

[22] Fan H, Mundstock A, Feldhoff A, . Covalent organic framework-covalent organic framework bilayer membranes for highly selective gas separation.Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2018, 140(32): 10094–10098

[23] Chen W B, Wang L, Mo D Z, . Modulating benzothiadiazole-based covalent organic frameworks via halogenation for enhanced photocatalytic water splitting.Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2020, 59(39): 16902–16909

[24] Ma H, Liu B, Li B, . Cationic covalent organic frameworks: a simple platform of anionic exchange for porosity tuning and proton conduction.Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2016, 138(18): 5897–5903

[25] Kong D, Han X, Xie J, . Tunable covalent triazine-based frameworks (CTF-0) for visible-light-driven hydrogen and oxygen generation from water splitting.ACS Catalysis, 2019, 9(9): 7697–7707

[26] Kuhn P, Antonietti M, Thomas A . Porous, covalent triazine-based frameworks prepared by ionothermal synthesis.Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2008, 47(18): 3450–3453

[27] Di S, Wang J, Zhai Y, . Efficient activation of peroxymonosulfate mediated by Co(II)-CeO₂ as a novel heterogeneous catalyst for the degradation of refractory organic contaminants: degradation pathway, mechanism and toxicity assessment.Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2022, 435: 129013

[28] Wang Y, Yang W, Chen X, . Photocatalytic activity enhancement of core–shell structure g-C₃N₄@TiO₂ via controlled ultrathin g-C₃N₄ layer.Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2018, 220: 337–347

[29] Gao Q, Xu J, Wang Z, . Enhanced visible photocatalytic oxidation activity of perylene diimide/g-C₃N₄ n–n heterojunction via π–π interaction and interfacial charge separation.Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2020, 271: 118933

[30] Qaraah F A, Mahyoub S A, Hezam A, . One step-polymerization for constructing 1D/2D oxygen doped g-C₃N₄ isotype heterojunctions with highly improved visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity.Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2021, 9(6): 106587

[31] Yang S, Li X, Ma J, . Atomically dispersed Ru catalysts for polychlorinated aromatic hydrocarbon oxidation.Nanoscale, 2022, 14(21): 7849–7855

[32] Chen P, Di S, Qiu X, . One-step synthesis of F-TiO₂/g-C₃N₄ heterojunction as highly efficient visible-light-active catalysts for tetrabromobisphenol A and sulfamethazine degradation.Applied Surface Science, 2022, 587: 152889

[33] Hastings A M, Ray D, Jeong W, . Advancement of actinide metal-organic framework chemistry via synthesis of Pu-UiO-66.Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2020, 142(20): 9363–9371

[34] Junkaew A, Maitarad P, Arróyave R, . The complete reaction mechanism of H₂S desulfurization on an anatase TiO₂ (0 0 1) surface: a density functional theory investigation.Catalysis Science & Technology, 2017, 7(2): 356–365

[35] Du W, Zhang Q, Shang Y, . Sulfate saturated biosorbent-derived Co-S@NC nanoarchitecture as an efficient catalyst for peroxymonosulfate activation.Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2020, 262: 118302

[36] Bai X J, Sun C P, Wu S L, . Enhancement of photocatalytic performance via a P3HT-g-C₃N₄ heterojunction.Journal of Materials Chemistry A: Materials for Energy and Sustainability, 2015, 3(6): 2741–2747

[37] Qin H, Zhang Y, He S, . Increasing the migration and separation efficiencies of photogenerated carriers in CQDs/BiOCl through the point discharge effect.Applied Surface Science, 2021, 562: 150214

[38] Qin H, Sun J, Xia D, . Boosting nonradical process in BiOI/BiOCl heterostructure by interface oxygen vacancies.Chemical Engineering Journal, 2022, 435: 134847

[39] Wei Y X, Ma M G, Li W L, . Enhanced photocatalytic activity of PTCDI-C₆₀ via π–π interaction.Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2018, 238: 302–308

Authors’ contributions

Pin Chen ― conceptualization, methodology, visualization, writing (original draft); Siyuan Di ― writing (review & editing), data curation; Weixin Xie ― revising (review & editing); Zihan Li ― validation; Shukui Zhu ― supervision, resources, writing (review & editing), validation, project administration, funding acquisition.

Declaration of competing interests

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grants from Environmental Protection Department of Hubei Province (No. 2017HB04) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan (No. CUG170102).

Electronic supplementary information

Supplementary materials can be found in the online version at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11706-023-0661-9 and https://journal.hep.com.cn/foms/EN/10.1007/s11706-023-0661-9, which include Schemes S1‒S2, Figs. S1‒S2, and Tables S1‒S2.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2023 Higher Education Press