Fabrication of Ag@m-MIL-100(Fe)/β-FeOOH/PVDF Membranes via a Two-Step Method Combining Hydrothermal Growth and Photochemical Substitution for Enhanced Photocatalytic and Anti-Fouling Performance

The uniform and stable deposition of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) onto membranes without compromising their performance presents a significant challenge. This study reports the fabrication of a photocatalytic self-cleaning membrane using hydrothermal and photochemical substitution methods. These methods enabled the uniform and stable deposition of β-FeOOH nanorods, m-MIL-100(Fe), and Ag nanoparticles (NPs) not only on the members surface but also throughout the interior of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane pores. The synergistic effect of these materials and their uniform and stable distribution within the PVDF membrane resulted in superior photocatalytic efficacy. The membrane's excellent photocatalytic performance facilitated the degradation of most pollutants, ensuring prolonged usage. Unlike other photocatalytic membranes requiring additional cocatalysts, our membrane degraded over 90% of various dyes without H 2 O 2 , demonstrating a greener usage mode and higher photocatalytic efficiency. The valence band (VB) and conduction band (CB) of β-FeOOH nanorods and m-MIL-100(Fe) were calculated, confirming the existence of a type-II heterojunction for the first time. Free radical trapping experiments identified hydroxyl radicals (·OH) as the primary reactive species in the degradation process. This research provides a novel approach to uniformly and stably load MOFs on membranes, enhancing their properties and offering insights into fabricating multifunctional photocatalytic membranes.