Carbon quantum dots/UiO-66@polysulfone porous microspheres fabricated via pickering emulsion template for pollutant removal

Abstract

The advancement of sophisticated photocatalytic materials for environmental amelioration has become increasingly imperative in the context of persistent organic pollutants in aqueous effluents. The amalgamation of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with nanocomposite constituents has demonstrated promising prospects in augmenting photocatalytic efficiency. Nevertheless, obstacles persist in the realms of optimizing photon absorption and the segregation of electron-hole pairs. The application of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) within this sphere, particularly in synergy with amino-functionalized MOFs such as UiO-66-NH2, remains underexplored. In this study, we elucidate the synthesis of UiO-66@Polysulfone porous microspheres, augmented by CQDs, employing an innovative Pickering emulsion template approach for the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline. Our findings reveal that this composite material not only manifests a distinctive hollow microsphere architecture, contributing to an elevated specific surface area, but also markedly enhances the degradation efficacies of both methylene blue and tetracycline under visible light irradiation. Moreover, this research accentuates the material's exceptional recyclability and stability, highlighting its potential as a sustainable and efficacious solution for the remediation of wastewater and organic pollutant degradation.