Surface-decorated porphyrinic zirconium-based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) using post-synthetic self-assembly for photodegradation of methyl orange dye

We report herein the surface decoration of a water-soluble free-base porphyrin, namely, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(1-methyl-4-pyridinio)porphyrin-tetra(p-toluenesulfonate) (H(2)TMPyP), over three different zirconium-based metal–organic frameworks of different linker structure and functionality; namely UiO66, UiO66-NH(2), and MIP-202, via self-assembly. The synthesized MOFs along with the resulting complexes have been characterized via spectroscopic and analytical techniques (XRD, FT-IR, TEM, N(2) adsorption/desorption, and laser scanning confocal microscopy). The self-assembly of H(2)TMPyP with the examined three MOFs was observed by using the steady-state absorption and fluorescence, as well as the fluorescence lifetime studies. It was evident that the highest complex interaction was recorded between porphyrin and UiO-66-NH(2) compared with the lowest interactions between porphyrin and MIP-202. This is in good agreement with the high surface area and pore volume of UiO-66 (1100 m(2) g(−1) and 0.68 cm(3) g(−1)) and compared to that of MIP-202 (94 m(2) g(−1) and 0.26 cm(3) g(−1)). The photocatalytic activities of the three porphyrin entities immobilized zirconium-based MOFs were compared toward methyl orange dye degradation from aqueous solution under visible light irradiation (λ(ex) = 430 nm). The photocatalytic studies render the fabrication of the self-assembled H(2)TMPyP@UiO-66-NH(2) composite as a promising material for dye degradation from polluted wastewater.