• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.68-74
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• 2018

Cobalt-incorporated zeolitic imidazolate framework ZIF-8 was synthesized by a simple one-pot synthesis method at room temperature. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns and energy dispersive X-ray spectrum confirmed the formation of the bimetallic Co/Zn-ZIF structure. UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra revealed that the bimetallic ZIF had a lower HOMO-LUMO gap compared with ZIF-8 due to the charge transfer process from organic ligands to cobalt centers. A hydrolytic stability test showed that Co/Zn-ZIF is very robust in aqueous solution - the most important criterion for any material to be applied in photodegradation. The photocatalytic efficiency of the synthesized samples was investigated over the Indigo Carmine (IC) dye degradation under solar simulated irradiation. Cobalt incorporated ZIF-8 exhibited high efficiency over a wide range of pH and initial concentration. The degradation followed through three distinct stages: a slow initial stage, followed by an accelerated stage and completed with a decelerated stage. Moreover, the photocatalytic performance of the synthesized samples was highly improved in alkaline environment rather than in acidic or neutral environments, which may have been because in high pH medium, the increased concentration of hydroxyl ion facilitated the formation of hydroxyl radicals, a reactive species responsible for the breaking of the Indigo Carmine structure. Thus, Co/Zn-ZIF is a promising and green material for solving the environmental pollution caused by textile industries.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.222-227
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• 2018

$Zn_{1-x}Co_x$ Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework (ZIF) (x = 0~0.05) were prepared by the co-precipitation of $Zn^{2+}$ and $Co^{2+}$ using 2-methylimidazole, which were converted into pure and Co-doped ZnO nanoparticles by heat treatment at $600^{\circ}C$ for 2 h. Homogeneous Zn/Co ZIFs were achieved at x < 0.05 owing to the strong coordination of the imidazole linker to $Zn^{2+}$ and $Co^{2+}$, facilitating atomic-scale doping of Co into ZnO via annealing. By contrast, heterogeneous Zn/Co ZIFs were formed at $x{\geq}0.05$, resulting in the formation of $Co_3O_4$ second phase. To investigate the potential as high-performance gas sensors, the gas sensing characteristics of pure and Co-doped ZnO nanoparticles were evaluated. The sensor using 3 at% Co-doped ZnO exhibited an unprecedentedly high response and selectivity to trimethylamine, whereas pure ZnO nanoparticles did not. The facile, bimetallic ZIF derived synthesis of doped-metal oxide nanoparticles can be used to design high-performance gas sensors.