Synergy in action: MOF-derived CoFeO3/Ce-MOF nanocomposites as piezo-photocatalysts for sustainable chromium reduction and nitrogen fixation

Piezo-photocatalysis, by enhancing the separation and migration of photoelectrons and holes, has garnered growing attention among researchers. Combining MOFs with CoFeO3, a recognized efficient piezo-catalyst, enhances the photocatalytic efficacy for reducing pollutants and stabilizing nitrogen compounds. In this study, we developed a series of CoFeO3/Ce-MOF nanocomposites by combining Cerium metal-organic frameworks with MOF-derived CoFeO3. To gauge their effectiveness, the CoFeO3/Ce-UiO-66, CoFeO3/Ce-MOF-808, and CoFeO3/Ce-MOF-801 heterostructures were assessed by employing multiple characterization methods including PXRD, FTIR, FESEM, TEM, DRS, EDX, VSM, PL, PC, EIS, Zeta, and BET. Generally, among the different nanocomposites studied, CoFeO3/Ce-MOF-801 achieved a remarkable result an outstanding 100 % efficiency in reducing Cr(VI) within just 30 minutes in pH=1, and in ammonia generation, with a rate of 292.13 mu mol g(-1) h(-1)L(-1). The results indicate that CoFeO3/Ce-MOFs have the potential to be an eco-friendly and affordable MOF-based piezo-photocatalyst that can effectively tackle the challenges of traditional photocatalysts.