Microwave Hydrothermally Synthesized Metal-Organic Framework-5 Derived C-doped ZnO with Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B.

C-doped ZnO particles have been successfully prepared by the calcination using microwave hydrothermally prepared metal-organic framework-5 (MOF-5) as the precursor. MOF-5 was turned into C-doped ZnO through calcination at 500 °C, and its cubic shape was well-maintained. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies confirmed the C-doping in the ZnO. The as-prepared C-doped ZnO demonstrated a Rhodamine B (RhB) degradation efficiency of 98% in 2 h under an solar-simulated light irradiation, much higher than that of C-doped ZnO derived from MOF-5 synthesized by the ordinary hydrothermal method. The trapping experiment revealed that the crucial factors in the RhB removal were photogenerated h+ and •O2-.