A groundbreaking study has been conducted on the characteristics and applications of mono- and bi-metallic ZIF samples based on zinc and cobalt. The samples were analyzed for morphology, chemical composition, chemical bonds, crystallinity, optical properties, pore sizes, specific surface area, thermal stability, and their abilities for water treatment through adsorption and photodegradation.
Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images revealed multifaceted structures with relatively uniform distributions in the mono- and bi-metallic ZIF samples. EDX spectra showed pure samples with varying atomic percentages of Zn and Co based on different molar ratios.
FTIR spectroscopy identified organized chemical bonds related to the structure of ZIF particles. X-ray diffraction (XRD) demonstrated high crystallinity in the samples with differences based on the Zn to Co ratio. Nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms showed Type I and Type II characteristics of the samples with different pore size distributions.
The mono- and bi-metallic ZIF particles also exhibited high efficiencies in treating water contaminated with methylene blue and copper ions. The ZIF:25:75 sample showed exceptional performance at removing both contaminants simultaneously. Furthermore, the sample demonstrated high efficiency even in highly polluted acidic water conditions.
The results highlight the potential of the ZIF:25:75 sample for water treatment applications, especially in environments with high levels of contamination. The study showcases the versatility and effectiveness of these mono- and bi-metallic ZIF particles for addressing water pollution challenges.
