Photocatalytic removal of pharmaceutical water pollutants by TiO2-Carbon dots nanocomposites: A review

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2022

Authors

Sendao, RMS (Author) Other; Joaquim C G E Esteves da Silva (Author) FCUP; da Silva, LP (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Chemosphere

Vol. 301

ISSN: 0045-6535

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 22 Citations

Scopus

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00W-EXY

DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134731

Abstract (EN): Pharmaceuticals are becoming increasingly more relevant water contaminants, with photocatalysts (such as TiO2) being a promising approach to remove these compounds from water. However, TiO2 has poor sunlight harvesting capacity, low photonic efficiency, and poor adsorption towards organic pollutants. One of the emerging strategies to enhance the photocatalytic performance of TiO2 is by conjugating it with fluorescent carbon dots. Herein, we performed a critical review of the development of TiO2 - carbon dots nanocomposites for the photocatalytic removal of pharmaceuticals. We found that carbon dots can improve the photocatalytic efficiency of the resulting nanocomposites, mostly due to increasing the adsorption of organic pollutants and enhancing the absorption in the visible range. However, while this approach shows significant promise, we also identified and discussed several aspects that need to be addressed before this strategy could be more widely used. We hope that this review can guide future studies aiming to the development of enhanced photocatalytic TiO2 - carbon dots nanocomposites.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 14