Mechanochemical Fullerene Nanoencapsulation in Amino-Functionalized ZIF-12 for Visible-Light Disinfection of Waterborne Viruses and Bacteria

Abstract

Water contamination poses a significant threat to public health and environmental sustainability, necessitating the development of efficient purification technologies. This study reports the mechanochemical synthesis of an amino-functionalized ZIF-12 framework with encapsulated fullerene (C60) as a bifunctional photocatalyst for water decontamination and disinfection under visible-light irradiation. The samples were characterized using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), FT-IR spectroscopy, N2 adsorption isotherm, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), confirming the retention of crystallinity and effective incorporation of C60 and amino groups within the framework. Fullerene loading and amino functionalization modified the optical properties, extending visible light absorption and enhancing charge separation and photocatalytic activity. The synergistic interaction between amino groups and C60 promotes efficient charge separation and enhanced hydroxyl radical production, resulting in improved photocatalytic and photo-Fenton activity. C60@ZIF-12-NH2 exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance, achieving the complete inactivation of bacteriophage P22 under saline conditions and effective disinfection of E. coli and coliforms in natural river water, demonstrating robustness under environmentally relevant conditions. The solvent-minimized mechanochemical synthesis and visible-light-driven activity position the C60@ZIF-12-NH2 composite as a promising platform for sustainable and advanced water treatment applications.