A simple and efficient MOF-based strategy is developed to synthesize highly uniform Ag/ZnO/ZnFe2O4 ternary composites with porous and hollow nanostructures.
The microstructures of the ternary composites can be tuned from porous to hollow interiors by simply changing the heating modes.
The loading amount of Ag in the composites can be adjusted by controlling the initial adsorption amount of Ag+ ions on the metal-organic framework of ZnPBA.
The materials exhibit significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity compared to the binary counterparts of ZnO/ZnFe2O4 and Ag/ZnFe2O4.