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A hetero-structured metal organic framework of Cu-BTC and Fe2O3 nano-photocatalyst were tethered over chitosan using the hydrothermal method and fabricated a hybrid porous nanocomposite (CS-Fe@Cu-BTC). X-ray diffractometer results exposed the existence of Fe2O3 peaks. Surface area measurements using BET showed a mesoporous structure and the formation of type IV adsorption isotherm for nanocomposite. XPS and SEM-EDAX confirmed the existence of Fe2O3 nanoparticles in the hybrid porous structure. The UV–vis diffuse reflectance absorption shape emphasized the role of Fe2O3 in enhancing the band gap of CS-Fe@Cu-BTC nanohybrid. The lower intensity photoluminescence spectra of the CS-Fe@Cu-BTC shows a competent charge partition and delayed the recombination of electron-hole pairs. The photo-mineralization efficiency of Cu-BTC and CS-Fe@Cu-BTC was evaluated in terms of electronic interactions using paraquat (PQT) as the probe molecule, which shows a mineralization of 91% at the pH range of ~ 5. The contribution of •OH in the degradation of PQT over CS-Fe@Cu-BTC nanocomposites revealed using the trapping test and the degradation mechanism follows the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model and pseudo-first-order kinetics. The durability of the CS-Fe@Cu-BTC nanocomposite was also established after four cycling processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient photocatalysis methods with a production of less number of toxic intermediates are extremely advantageous for water decontamination. The degradation efficiency, specific surface area, stability and porosity will be improving by wrapping of Fe 2 O 3 using appropriate biopolymers. In this work, Fe 2 O 3 reinforced chitosan (Fe 2 O 3 @CS) nanocomposite was fabricated using co-precipitation method. The chitosan makes available its surface for the useful generation of the nanocomposite. These wrapping of Fe 2 O 3 on chitosan provides synergistically improved properties that could be attributed to the elevated partition efficiency and faster transfer of the photo-generated charge carriers, which was substantiated by the experimental outcomes from photoluminescence and ESR spectroscopy. The results obtained from DRS analysis entail the reduction in band gap of Fe 2 O 3 @CS (2.52 eV) as compared with 3.52 eV of Fe 2 O 3 . The results indicated that 89.2% and 94.6% were the maximum degradations correspondingly for MO and OG. The trapping investigation emphasized the involvement of OH radicals in the degradation of dyes over Fe 2 O 3 @CS composites. The five cycles of regeneration experiment recommended the superior photostability of the fabricated Fe 2 O 3 @CS composite. This work proposed a practical arrangement and subsequent influence of an advanced photocatalyst for the useful remediation dyes from contaminated water without causing any secondary pollution., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)