Rational design of a hierarchical g-C3N4/copper-MOF/Fe3O4 ternary composite for potential photocatalytic applications

Seyed Ali Zargar; Ali Moeini; Adrine Malek Khachatourian; Mohammadamin Aghdamshahriar; Seyedamirabbas Estahbanati

doi:10.53063/synsint.2026.63370

Seyed Ali Zargar ¹
Ali Moeini ¹
Adrine Malek Khachatourian ¹
Mohammadamin Aghdamshahriar ¹
Seyedamirabbas Estahbanati ¹

¹ Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.53063/synsint.2026.63370

Abstract

Photocatalysis is an eco-friendly approach for water remediation. Solar radiation can serve as a natural source of visible light for photocatalytic processes, making visible-light-driven photocatalysis a promising approach for practical environmental applications. Along with visible light absorption and a highly active surface, the primary requirements of photocatalysts, facile separation for reuse is a key feature for photocatalyst development. Herein, a hierarchically separable ternary composite of g-C₃N₄/Cu-BTC MOF/Fe₃O₄, denoted CNMF, was fabricated as a potential photocatalyst material. The g-C₃N₄ and Fe₃O₄ were obtained via thermal polymerization and co-precipitation, respectively. Finally, the copper metal-organic framework (Cu-MOF) was synthesized in situ using a solvothermal method in the presence of g-C₃N₄ and Fe₃O₄. The morphological, structural, optical, elemental, and magnetic properties of the synthesized materials were investigated. Morphological studies showed a hierarchical architecture in which faceted Cu-MOF crystallites and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were integrated with layered g-C₃N₄. The band gap energy of CNMF was calculated as 2.94 eV. Thus, it benefits from the high visible absorption of g-C₃N₄, high redox capacity of Cu-MOF, and easy recyclability and reusability of Fe₃O₄. CNMF exhibited superparamagnetic behavior with a saturation magnetization of approximately 2.19 emu g^-1. The findings of the study confirm the potential of CNMF as a magnetically recoverable candidate for photocatalytic applications.

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Keywords: Photocatalysis, Metal-organic framework, Hierarchical heterostructure, Recoverable photocatalyst, Bandgap tuning, Electronic modification

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