In this study, UiO-66-NH2 was synthesized and incorporated with graphene aerosol (UiO-66-NH2/GA) and ethylenediamine functionalized graphene oxide (UiO-66-NH2/GO-NH2). These composites were characterized using infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet–visible light spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. UiO-66-NH2/GO-NH2 exhibited 93% adsorption of quinoline in 5 h, UiO-66-NH2 and UiO-66-NH2/GA presented 80.4% and 86.5%, respectively. The high adsorption observed on UiO-66-NH2/GO-NH2 was attributed to the unique electronic properties, and hydrogen bonding between the nitrogen atom of quinoline and NH2- phenyl fragment of UiO-66-NH2, and N–H of ethylenediamine. GO also offered combined strong π–π interactions on its surface, and the oxygen coverage (~ 50%) on GO within the structure is responsible for the formation of strong hydrogen bonds with quinoline. Theoretical calculation suggested that UiO-66-NH2/GO-NH2 presented a more favourable adsorption energy (− 18.584 kcal/ mol) compared to UiO-66-NH2 (− 16.549 kcal/mol) and UiO-66-NH2/GA (− 13.991 kcal/mol). These results indicate that nanocomposites have a potential application in quinoline capture technologies in the process of adsorptive denitrogenation.

Bi2MoO6 (BMO) via the structure-directing role of CO(NH2)2 is successfully prepared via a facile solvothermal route. The structure, morphology, and photocatalytic performance of the nanoflake BMO are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fluorescence spectrum analysis (PL), UV-vis spectroscopy (UVvis) and electrochemical test. SEM images show that the size of nanoflake BMO is about 50 ~ 200 nm. PL and electrochemical analysis show that the nanoflake BMO has a lower recombination rate of photogenerated carriers than particle BMO. The photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) by nanoflake BMO under visible light is investigated. The results show that the nanoflake BMO-3 has the highest degradation efficiency under visible light, and the degradation efficiency reached 75 % within 120 min, attributed to the unique hierarchical structure, efficient carrier separation and sufficient free radicals to generate active center synergies. The photocatalytic reaction mechanism of TC degradation on the nanoflake BMO is proposed.

Halloysite nanotube (HNT) has a nanotube structure with the chemical formula of Al2Si2O5(OH)4 · nH2O and is a natural sediment of aluminosilicate. A lot of research has been conducted to improve the mechanical properties of epoxy composites by generating interactions between HNTs and polymers through surface treatment of HNTs, such as exchange of amine group as a terminal functional group. However, most of the surface modification methods are performed under wet conditions, which require a relatively large amount of time, manpower and solvent. In order to save time and simplify complicated procedures, a dry coating machine was designed and used for amine group exchange. Comparing the XPS results, it was found that the results of NH2-HNT prepared using a dry coating machine and the substitution through the wet method were not significantly different, and it has been confirmed that the amount of solvent used and the time savings can be made.

In this study, a metal-organic framework (MOF) material NH2-MIL-101(Fe) was synthesized using the solvothermal method, and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-visible spectrophotometry, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and surface area measurements. The XRD pattern of the synthesized NH2-MIL-101(Fe) was similar to the previously reported patterns of MIL-101 type materials, which indicated the successful synthesis of NH2-MIL-101(Fe). The FT-IR spectrum showed the molecular structure and functional groups of the synthesized NH2-MIL-101(Fe). The UV-visible absorbance spectrum indicated that the synthesized material could be activated as a photocatalyst under visible light irradiation. FE-SEM and TEM images showed the formation of hexagonal microspindle structures in the synthesized NH2-MIL-101(Fe). Furthermore, the EDS spectrum indicated that the synthesized material consisted of Fe, N, O, and C elements. The synthesized NH2-MIL-101(Fe) was then employed as an adsorbent and photocatalyst for the removal of Indigo carmine and Rhodamine B from aqueous solutions. The initial 30 min of adsorption for Indigo carmine and Rhodamine B without light irradiation achieved removal efficiencies of 83.6% and 70.7%, respectively. The removal efficiencies thereafter gradually increased with visible light irradiation for 180 min, and the overall removal efficiencies for Indigo carmine and Rhodamine B were 94.2% and 83.5%, respectively. These results indicate that the synthesized MOF material can be effectively applied as an adsorbent and photocatalyst for the removal of dyes.