Preparation of Zn2+–Ni2+–Fe3+–CO32−LDHs and study of photocatalytic activities for decomposition of Methyl Orange solution

New type photocatalytic materials of Zn2+–Ni2+–Fe3+–CO32−LDHs were prepared by complexing agent-assisted homogeneous precipitation technique and Zn(NO3)2·6H2O, Ni(NO3)·6H2O, Fe(NO3)3·9H2O used as raw materials in the case of molar ratio of Zn2+/Ni2+/Fe3+ = 1:6:2. Zn2+–Ni2+–Fe3+–CO32−LDHs having a specific surface area of 96.5 m2/g. The structure and catalytic properties of the material were systematically studied. The experimental results show that the Zn2+–Ni2+–Fe3+–CO32−LDHs has a higher adsorption performance and lower band gap which make it an excellent catalyst for reducing the degradation of the methyl orange. Study on the process of photocatalytic reaction shows that Methyl Orange was adsorbed to the layer of Zn2+–Ni2+–Fe3+–CO32−LDHs, and then it was photodecomposed to inorganic molecules and ions by Zn2+, Ni2+, and Fe3+ on the surface of Zn2+–Ni2+–Fe3+–CO32−LDHs.