Facile Synthesis of Various ZrO2 Phases and ZrO2-MO2 (M = Ti, Hf) by Thermal Decomposition of a Single UiO-66 Precursor for Photodegradation of Methyl Orange

A zirconia-based catalyst with controlled crystalline phases is synthesized through a simple thermal decomposition of parent UiO-66 single precursor. The introduction Ti(IV) and Hf(IV) cation into the Zr(IV) framework has been successfully obtained to tune photocatalytic activity over methyl orange (MO) solution. Their resulting phases, morphologies, elemental analysis, band gap values, surface area, degradation study MO dye are presented discussed. tetragonal zirconia (t-ZrO2) exhibits highest 89% decoloration efficiency under UV irradiation (λ = 254 nm) for 300 min compared m-ZrO2 (67%), mixed (t-ZrO2 m-ZrO2), as well oxides ZrO2-MO2 (M Ti or Hf), where activities 74% 63%, respectively. This result on par commercially available anatase TiO2 other reported t-ZrO2 catalysts.