The enhanced photocatalytic performance of Co3O4 nanoparticles/In2O3 nanotubes pn junction via dual MOFs template auxiliary

The dual metal–organic framework template auxiliary Co3O4 nanoparticles/In2O3 nanotubes pn junction is fabricated via a simple chemical calcination method. As revealed, the kinetic curve slope of photodegradation of TC–HCl (tetracycline hydrochloride) of Co3O4/In2O3 pn junction (Co3O4/In2O3-3) can reach to ~ 0.07816 min−1, which exhibits an obvious enhancement than that of single In2O3 (~ 0.01229 min−1, ~ 6.5-fold) and single Co3O4 (~ 0.02010 min−1, ~ fourfold), and achieves a decent photocatalytic stability during 24 h cycling (decreasing by ~ 7–8%). It can be mainly ascribed to that the formed Co3O4/In2O3 pn junction with appropriate potential gradient can improve carrier transportation, including increased carrier transportation, prolonged lifetime and decreased recombination, and the Co3O4 with narrower band gap can increase solar efficiency. Additionally, the three-dimensional tubular structure can provide sufficient specific surface areas (~ 130.84 m2/g) and increase photodegradation stability.