Synthesis of MIL-100(Fe) derived α-Fe₂O₃ for fabrication of α-Fe₂O₃/ZIF-8 as photocatalyst of malachite green degradation

Development of highly efficient photocatalysts for the degradation of persistent and recalcitrant malachite green (MG) dye remains a significant challenge. In this study, mesoporous α-Fe₂O₃ was synthesized by calcining MIL-100(Fe) and subsequently encapsulated within ZIF-8 to form α-Fe₂O₃/ZIF-8 (FZF) composites. The resulting heterostructures exhibited a high surface area (566 m²/g), a narrow band gap (∼2.0 eV), improved charge separation, and strong adsorption capacity. Among the samples, FZF-25 achieved 99.35 % removal of 150 ppm MG within 80 min under UV irradiation and maintained excellent stability over four cycles. These findings highlight a promising MOF-derived α-Fe₂O₃/ZIF-8 approach that enables synergistic adsorption–photocatalysis process.