Molecularly imprinted polymer-based photocatalyst for highly selective degradation of methylene blue

ZnO quantum dots were synthesized by chemical precipitation, CuFe₂O₄ nanoparticles were prepared by in situ synthesis of cellulose, and then ZnO/CuFe₂O₄ (ZCF) composites were fabricated. A photocatalyst (ZCF@MB-MIP) with specific molecule recognition and photocatalytic degradation characteristics was then produced by a surface imprinting method using methylene blue (MB) as the template molecule. The structure of ZCF@MB-MIP was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The photocatalytic efficiency of ZCF@MB-MIP and its specific recognition performance in MB degradation was analyzed. The adsorption kinetics of MB by ZCF@MB-MIP conformed to the quasi-secondary adsorption kinetics model. ZCF@MB-MIP displayed effective photocatalytic degradation of MB under natural light. The degradation rate reached 95.8%, which was much higher than those of ZCF, CuFe₂O₄ nanoparticles, and a non-imprinted reference sample under the same conditions. This work is a useful reference for the construction of photocatalysts that show highly selective recognition of dye molecules.