Zinc/Cobalt‐Based Zeolite Imidazolate Frameworks for Simultaneously Degrading Dye and Inhibiting Bacteria
Nguyen Thi Thanh Tu, Lu Hoang Khang, Nguyen Ngoc Phuong Thao, Nguyễn Thị Thu Hiền, Thuy Chau To, Le Thi Hong Diep, Le Van Thanh Sơn, Phan Lien, Vo Thang Nguyen, Đinh Quang Khiếu
Abstract
In this work, the zinc/cobalt‐based zeolite imidazolate frameworks ((Co/Zn)ZIFs) were synthesized with the solvothermal method. The obtained material was characterized by utilizing scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), UV‐Vis diffusive reflectance spectroscopy, and nitrogen adsorption‐desorption isotherms. XRD and SEM analyses show that (Co/Zn)ZIFs are composed of nanocrystals with polyhedral shapes of around 50–100 nm and belong to the I‐43m space group as those of ZIF‐8 and ZIF‐67. Optical studies demonstrate a red shift in the absorbance spectrum of (Co/Zn)ZIFs compared with individual components of ZIF‐67 or ZIF‐8. (Co/Zn)ZIF composite was utilized as photocatalytic material to treat a model aqueous solution containing rhodamine B and bacteria. It was found that (Co/Zn)ZIFs could simultaneously degrade rhodamine B and inhibit bacteria ( E. coli and S. aureus ). The manufactured composite could catalyze the mineralization of rhodamine B and also exhibited good antibacterial activity against Gram‐negative E. coli (93.32% inhibition rate) and Gram‐positive S. aureus (90.86% inhibition rate) in the visible‐light region within four hours of irradiation. Gram‐negative bacteria were more resistant to (Co/Zn)ZIFs than Gram‐positive bacteria. (Co/Zn)ZIFs can be used as light‐driven catalysts for water and environmental detoxification from organic compounds like dyes and bacteria.