Confined ultrasmall MOF nanoparticles anchored on a 3D-graphene network as efficient and broad pH-adaptive photo Fenton-like catalysts

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) for persulfate-based Fenton-like processes have attracted tremendous attention nowadays. However, the low utilization of active sites and poor stability of MOFs still impede their practical application. In this work, we demonstrate a unique photo Fenton-like catalyst with confined ultrasmall MOF nanoparticles anchored on a 3D-graphene network, which is fabricated through a simple confined thermal pulverization method. The ultrasmall Co–Fe MOF nanoparticles with confined structure endowed this catalyst with highly exposed active sites as well as excellent stability. It can maintain high degradation efficiency via visible light-assisted peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation in a broad pH range from 1–13. Electron spin resonance (ESR) technology reveals that both radical and nonradical processes are involved in this process, and the broad pH adaptability of this system is due to the stable generation of ˙OH, SO4˙−, ˙O2−, and 1O2 under these pH conditions. This study provides new perspectives for the development of highly efficient and harsh environment-adaptive MOF-based Fenton-like catalysts.