Ce-doped UiO-67 nanocrystals with improved adsorption property for removal of organic dyes

In this study, we report the synthesis of Ce-doped UiO-67 nanocrystals via one-step hydrothermal method and their potential use for waste water treatment to remove organic dyes. The as-prepared samples were characterized by using SEM, TEM, FT-IR, XRD, XPS and TG techniques and the results demonstrate the formation of the framework structure of the Ce-doped UiO-67. The adsorption study of the material shows that the Ce-doped UiO-67 nanoparticles preferentially adsorb the cationic dyes such as rhodamine B and malachite green rather than the anionic dyes such as methyl orange. Adsorption capacities are 754.4, 589.2 and 191.6 mg g(−1) for rhodamine B, malachite green and methyl orange respectively. Based on its zeta potential and adsorption isotherm, it is understood that Ce doping increases its electrostatic interactions, and as a consequence, improves the adsorption capacity for cationic dyes. In addition, it is found that a pseudo-second-order kinetics and the Langmuir isothermal model were suitable for describing the adsorption behavior of cationic dyes onto the Ce-doped UiO-67.