Gold nanoparticle decoration of metal oxides (M = Cu, Ni, Zn) embedded in porous MOF-derived: Facile synthesis and possible applications

Gold-decorated metal-organic framework-derived (MOF-derived) composites have been synthesized by the thermal decomposition of three different MOFs (Zn-trimesic acid, Ni-trimesic acid, Cu-trimesic acid) previously prepared by coprecipitation method. Its structure and crystallite size, morphology, statistical particle size distribution, specific surface area, pore size, and band gap energy were characterized before and after calcination in air atmosphere. Gold nanoparticles at two different concentrations, 0.5 wt% and 0.75 wt%, were coupled with each MOF-derived material through citrate reduction method. The characterization results show that quasi-spherical MOF-derived NiO particles exhibited a particle size of 112 +/- 18 nm, the highest specific surface area of 202 m(2) g(-1), and a band gap energy with a redshift in light absorption after calcination and from 3.98 to 2.96 eV. Moreover, a further reduction in the band gap energy and the electron-hole recombination was attained by coupling gold nanoparticles with MOF-derived nanocarbons.