Preparation of C₃N₄ quantum dots sensitized Iron MOF composites to photocatalytically degrade congo red solution

MIL-101(Fe), despite its high surface area and adsorption capacity, suffers from rapid electron-hole recombination that limits photocatalytic efficiency. To overcome this challenge, we engineered a C3N4 quantum dots (QDs) /MIL-101(Fe) composite via a facile loading method. Comprehensive characterization by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) verified the effective incorporation of C3N4 QDs, which significantly suppressed charge carrier recombination and enhanced visible-light harvesting. The optimized composite demonstrated superior photocatalytic performance, achieving near-complete degradation of 100 mg/L Congo red within 20 mins under visible light, far exceeding the activity of pristine MIL-101(Fe). This study provides a rational design strategy to improve charge separation in metal-organic framework-based photocatalysts for organic pollutant remediation.