Facile synthesis of rGO@In2S3@UiO-66 ternary composite with enhanced visible-light photodegradation activity for methyl orange

Abstract In this study, rGO@In2S3@UiO-66 ternary composites have been designed and fabricated via a facile two-step hydrothermal process and used as visible-light-driven photocatalyst. The as-prepared samples have been characterized by PXRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, UV–vis DRS, PC, PL and BET. The photocatalytic performance is evaluated by the degradation of methyl orange (MO) under visible-light irradiation. The results show that the photocatalytic performance of rGO@In2S3@UiO-66 is superior to that of In2S3, UiO-66 and In2S3@UiO-66. The enhanced photocatalytic performance of rGO@In2S3@UiO-66 can be attributed to the relative large specific surface area, the improving light absorption region caused by rGO and the promoting the separation of photo-induced carriers by the synergistic effect of rGO, In2S3 and UiO-66. In addition, the rGO@In2S3@UiO-66 composites also demonstrate outstanding photocatalytic stability and there is only 5.8% loss of degradation rate after five cycles. Furthermore, the reasonable photocatalytic mechanism for the degradation of MO by rGO@In2S3@UiO-66 was also proposed.