Fabrication of In2O3/Co3O4-palygorskite composites by the pyrolysis of In/Co-MOFs for efficient degradation of methylene blue and tetracycline

A facile method for fabrication of In 2 O 3 /Co 3 O 4 @palygorskite composites from a Co/In-based metal-organic framework (MOF) was reported. First, Co/In-MOFs hybridized with palygorskite (PAL) was prepared via a one-pot solvothermal method. Second, In 2 O 3 /Co 3 O 4 @PAL composites were obtained by pyrolysis of In 2 O 3 /Co 3 O 4 @PAL in air. It was found that the In 2 O 3 /Co 3 O 4 @PAL composite exhibited higher photocatalytic activities than In 2 O 3 /Co 3 O 4 to the degradation of MB and TC under visible-light irradiation. About 99% of MB (within 40   min) and 80% of TC (within 120   min) were degraded using In 2 O 3 /Co 3 O 4 @5.0%PAL as catalyst. It was supposed that the efficient adsorption of MB and TC, and electrostatic interactions between electron–hole and PAL were responsible for such improvement. The photocatalytic degradation mechanisms of MB and TC on the In 2 O 3 /Co 3 O 4 @PAL were investigated. This work shows that hybridization MOFs with PAL could enhance the photocatalytic properties of MOFs-derived metal oxides for water treatment.