Search Results (442)

Deep eutectic solvents are a sustainable and chemically tunable class of solvents formed by strong hydrogen bonding between a hydrogen bond acceptor and a hydrogen bond donor. Their extreme versatility has established deep eutectic solvents in ten key applied areas, including the green extraction of bioactive compounds, CO₂ capture, electrochemistry, and the catalytic media. Research is shifting towards highly innovative frontier trends, such as the role of deep eutectic solvents in dynamic covalent chemistry and as templates for advanced photocatalytic nanomaterials. Other innovative directions include artificial organelles for bioremediation, thermoacoustic deep eutectic solvents for smart drug delivery, and their use as multifunctional interfaces for 2D materials. The future of deep eutectic solvents lies in process engineering and scale-up, supported by computational chemistry, confirming their position as a central pillar of the circular economy. This trajectory marks the transition of deep eutectic solvents from laboratory curiosities to a scalable industrial reality. Full article

Widespread antibiotic residues in aquatic environments pose escalating threats to ecological stability and human health, highlighting the urgent demand for effective remediation strategies. In recent years, photocatalytic technology based on advanced nanomaterials has emerged as a sustainable and efficient strategy for antibiotic degradation, enabling the effective utilization of solar energy for environmental remediation. This review provides an in-depth discussion of six representative categories of photocatalytic nanomaterials that have demonstrated remarkable performance in antibiotic degradation, including metal oxide-based systems with defect engineering and hollow architectures, bismuth-based semiconductors with narrow band gaps and heterojunction designs, silver-based plasmonic composites with enhanced light harvesting, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) featuring tunable porosity and hybrid interfaces, carbon-based materials such as g-C₃N₄ and biochar that facilitate charge transfer and adsorption, and emerging MXene–semiconductor hybrids exhibiting exceptional conductivity and interfacial activity. The photocatalytic performance of these nanomaterials is compared in terms of degradation efficiency, recyclability, and visible-light response to evaluate their suitability for antibiotic degradation. Beyond parent compound removal, we emphasize transformation products, mineralization, and post-treatment toxicity evolution as critical metrics for assessing true detoxification and environmental risk. In addition, the incorporation of artificial intelligence into photocatalyst design, mechanistic modeling, and process optimization is highlighted as a promising direction for accelerating material innovation and advancing toward scalable, safe, and sustainable photocatalytic applications. Full article

The rapid increase in global population and industrial activities has intensified the discharge of toxic organic pollutants—including antibiotics, dyes, phenolic compounds, and pesticides—into the environment, posing critical threats to both ecosystems and human health. Conventional treatment technologies remain largely inadequate for their complete removal, particularly for pollutants with complex structures and high persistence. Among advanced approaches, photocatalytic systems have emerged as a sustainable and environmentally friendly technology, capable of mineralizing organic pollutants into harmless end products. However, their large-scale application is hindered by inherent limitations such as restricted visible-light activity, low quantum efficiency, and rapid recombination of charge carriers. This mini-review critically examines recent advances aimed at overcoming these bottlenecks, including band gap engineering, metal and non-metal doping, and the incorporation of carbon-based nanomaterials (e.g., CNTs, GO, CQDs). Special emphasis is placed on strategies that enhance photocatalytic activity under visible light, as well as the emerging potential of waste-derived carbon-based photocatalysts for sustainable applications. Finally, key research gaps—such as scalability, long-term stability, and techno-economic feasibility—are discussed to provide future perspectives on the rational design of next-generation photocatalysts. Full article

The present study targets key limitation ‘separation after the process’ that is responsible for the loss of the photocatalyst in water treatment during heterogeneous photocatalysis. Therefore, eco-friendly nanostructured ZnO coatings were engineered by the doctor blade technique through the immobilization of green ZnO nanomaterials onto alumina substrate. ZnO/BPE 30 and ZnO/BPE 60 coatings were obtained from banana peel extract-based ZnO powder (ZnO/BPE). Likewise, ZnO/GTE 30 and ZnO/GTE 60 were prepared using green tea extract-based ZnO powder (ZnO/GTE). XRD characterization verified hexagonal wurtzite ZnO phase, while HRSEM analysis revealed that the flat surface of ZnO/BPE had rod-like nanostructures below 120 nm, and ZnO/GTE had spherical, porous nanoparticle networks with less than 70 nm. According to UV–vis spectrometry, all four coatings have bandgaps of ~5 eV. The highest efficiency for the solar-driven photocatalytic degradation of emerging organic pollutants was for ciprofloxacin (among pesticides clomazone and tembotrione; pharmaceuticals ciprofloxacin and 17α-ethinylestradiol; and mycotoxin zearalenone) in ultrapure water with the presence of all studied ZnO-based coatings, after 60 min of simulated solar irradiation. Its highest removal (89.1%) was achieved with ZnO/GTE 30, also having good reusability across three consecutive cycles in river water, thus supporting the application of eco-friendly, immobilized ZnO nanomaterials for wastewater treatment and environmental remediation. Full article

Background: Biofilm-associated infections remain a major challenge in modern medicine due to their high resistance to antibiotics and immune defences. Advances in materials science, chemistry, and nanotechnology have led to the development of innovative, non-antibiotic approaches to prevent or eradicate biofilms. Methods: This review summarises antibiofilm strategies reported between 2020 and 2025, grouped into chemical, enzymatic, physical–photonic, nanomaterial-based, and biological hybrid categories. Results: Chemical methods such as silver-based chemical systems, nitric oxide donors, and biosurfactants disrupt bacterial membranes, generate reactive oxygen species, and inhibit quorum sensing. Enzymatic coatings with DNase I or lysostaphin effectively reduce Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis biofilms, showing stability after sterilisation and high biocompatibility. Physical–photonic techniques, including photocatalytic and light-activated coatings, provide controllable and renewable antibacterial activity. Nanomaterials such as silver nanomaterials, chitosan-based carriers, magnetic ferrites, and catalytic nanozymes enable targeted, ROS-mediated biofilm disruption. Biologically derived systems, including bacteriophage hydrogels and plant metabolites, offer eco-friendly, biocompatible alternatives. Conclusions: Recent antibiofilm innovations mark a transition from conventional antibiotics to multifunctional and adaptive systems integrating chemical, enzymatic, and physical mechanisms for effective biofilm control on medical surfaces. Full article

In this study, a novel photocatalytic nanomaterial BiTmFeSbO₇ was successfully synthesized for the first time by using the solvothermal method. On account of the effective Z-scheme mechanism, the BiTmFeSbO₇/BiTmO₃ heterojunction photocatalyst (BTBTHP) could effectively separate the photoinduced electrons and the photoinduced holes, concurrently, the high oxidation potential and reduction potential of the BiTmFeSbO₇ and the BiTmO₃ were retained. Additionally, a Z-scheme BTBTHP was synthesized by using an ultrasound-assisted solvothermal approach. As a result, the BTBTHP exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance during the degradation process of the sulfathiazole (STZ). The morphological features, composition distribution, photochemistry properties and photoelectric properties of the prepared samples were investigated by using the comprehensive characterization techniques. Under the condition of visible light irradiation, the BTBTHP demonstrated an excellent removal efficiency of 99.50% for degrading the STZ. Contrastive analysis results indicated that the removal efficiency of the STZ by using the BTBTHP was substantially higher than that by using the BiTmFeSbO₇, the BiTmO₃, and the N-doped TiO₂. The removal rate of the STZ by using the BTBTHP was 1.14 times that by using the BiTmFeSbO₇, 1.28 times that by using the BiTmO₃, and 2.71 times that by using the N-doped TiO₂. Moreover, the stability and the reusability of the BTBTHP were verified through five successive photocatalytic cyclic degradation experiments, indicating that the BTBTHP owned potential for the practical application. The active species which was produced by the BTBTHP were identified as hydroxyl radicals (•OH), superoxide anions (•O₂⁻), and photoinduced holes (h⁺) by capturing radicals experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance testing experiments. Therefore, the degradation mechanism and the pathway of the STZ could be more comprehensively elucidated. In summary, this study lays a solid foundation for the development and further research of high efficient Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts and offers novel insights into sustainable remediation strategies for the STZ pollution. Full article

In this paper, by employing an eco-friendly and green approach, semiconductor CuO/ZnO nanocomposite are synthesized using an aqueous extract of Urtica urens. FT-IR, XRD, TEM, SAED, EDX, TGA, and UV-Vis spectroscopy were used for semiconductor characterization. The data revealed the successful formation of crystalline spherical nanocomposites with sizes ranging from 5 to 45 nm. The main components of the synthesized nanocomposites were Cu, Zn, and O, which had different weights and atomic percentages. The maximum absorbance of nanocomposites was 358 nm, with a direct bandgap of 2.25 eV, which is suitable for photocatalysis under visible light. The maximum photocatalytic activity of the synthesized semiconductor nanocomposites for photodegradation of methylene blue dye was 95.8%, where it was 44.5% and 65.5% for monometallic CuO and ZnO, respectively. The optimum conditions for maximum photocatalytic activity were a pH of 9, a dye concentration of 5 mg L⁻¹, and nanocomposite concentration of 1.0 mg mL⁻¹ after 70 min. The reusability of the synthesized semiconductor was promising for the fourth cycle, with a reduced capacity of 5%. Complementary investigations, antimicrobial activity and cytotoxic activity, were performed to increase the application of semiconductor nanocomposites. The data revealed the promising activity of the nanocomposite against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, B. subtilis, S. aureus, C. parapsilosis, C. albicans, and C. tropicalis with low MICs ranging between 50 and 25 µg mL⁻¹. Additionally, compared with normal cell line, the synthesized nanocomposite targeted the cancer cell line HepG2 with a low IC50 value of 69.9 µg mL⁻¹ (vs. IC50 220 µg mL⁻¹ of normal cell line HFB4). Overall, the green-synthesized semiconductor CuO/ZnO nanocomposite showed promising activity as environmental contaminant cleaner and was integrated with antimicrobial and in vitro cytotoxic activities. Full article

Modern medicine is facing a significant challenge in dealing with infections caused by Candida spp. and the biofilms they form. Although there are numerous treatment methods available for Candida species, standard therapeutic protocols are increasingly failing, particularly in cases of chronic local infections, such as those affecting immunocompromised patients (e.g., due to immunosuppression or diabetes). In such cases, a promising approach is to use nanomaterials to inactivate and eradicate Candida spp. and their biofilms. In order to limit the spread of Candida spp. and their biofilms within the healthcare environment, thereby reducing the risk of patient infection, photocatalysis appears to be a noteworthy method for improving therapeutic outcomes. Candida spp. biofilms are difficult to eradicate because they possess multiple resistance mechanisms—including protective extracellular matrix, efflux pumps, quorum sensing, persister and Goliath cells—which collectively enhance drug tolerance, adhesion, and survival rates under antifungal treatment. The use of nanomaterials, such as nanoparticles, carbon dots, or nanozymes for photocatalytic processes, seems to be a promising solution, showing outstanding results in Candida spp. biofilm disruption and inactivation. This is due to their superior biofilm penetration, effective destruction of proteins and enzymes, destabilization of EPS, degradation of nucleic acids, and reduced drug resistance. We collected the most important nanomaterials useful in combating Candida spp. biofilm and organized the photocatalysis mechanism of action in its disruption. Based on current research, we have compiled modern strategies involving nanomaterials and their photocatalytic activity for potential application in the healthcare environment, with the aim of reducing the presence of Candida spp. biofilms and, consequently, lowering the incidence of Candida spp.-related infections. Full article

The anodization of Ti° enables the formation of well-ordered TiO₂ nanotubes, a highly promising nanomaterial with exceptional photochemical properties and potential applications in the energy and environmental sectors. This study addresses the growth of TiO₂ nanotubes on large-scale surfaces applied for photocatalytic processes. The present investigation approaches the scaling up of the reactor for anodizing Ti°-coated flat surfaces and thus connecting the TiO₂-nano-structure with real-world applications. For this, 316 stainless steel sheets were coated with a uniform Ti° layer using the arc cathodic method. The results indicate that the (~3 µm) thick Ti° arc-PVD coatings are well anodized, despite the inherent amount of µm-sized droplets produced during the deposition. The results reported here highlight the effects of the anodization process parameters—voltage, current, and time—on nanotube growth. At 60 V, the nanotubes exhibited a highly uniform cylindrical morphology, homogeneous walls contributing to an ordered, stable, and open nanostructure at large Ti-coated surfaces. The scaling up of the reactor for the controlled anodization process of Ti° coating is addressed. This approach validates Ti°-based PVD coatings at a semi-industrial scale on commercial stainless steel, thus enabling affordable production costs. Lastly, the anodization of Ti° coatings is a viable, scalable manufacturing process for producing photocatalytic nanostructured surfaces. Full article

This study investigates the influence of morphology on the photocatalytic and gas-sensing properties of copper oxide (CuO) nanomaterials, comparing spherical nanoparticles (NPs) and nanowhiskers (NWs). CuO NWs were synthesized via thermal oxidation of electrodeposited copper, exhibiting a polycrystalline structure with an average diameter of 69 nm, while NPs were obtained by ball-milling NWs, resulting in spherical particles (227 nm). Photocatalytic tests using methylene blue degradation under UV and visible light revealed that NWs exhibited superior properties. Kinetic analysis indicated pseudo-first-order behavior under visible light, while UV-driven reactions deviated due to surface-limited processes. In gas-sensing experiments, CuO NPs demonstrated higher sensitivity to acetone than NWs. Full article

Enhancing the oxidation resistance of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) is a crucial objective in plasmonic photocatalytic reactions. In this study, a series of Cu/X catalysts was synthesized using semiconductor nanomaterials (X = TiO₂, ZnO, BN, TiN, SiC, and C₃N₄) as supports for CuNPs. These catalysts were systematically evaluated in visible-light-driven photocatalytic oxidative homocoupling of phenylacetylene (OHA). Comprehensive characterization revealed distinct metal-support interactions and nanostructure evolution during repeated catalytic cycles. The photocatalytic performance, copper leaching, and structural stability of the catalysts were compared. Cu/TiO₂ achieved the highest 1,3-diyne yield (up to 93%) in the first two cycles. In contrast, Cu/ZnO showed minimal copper leaching and excellent recyclability, retaining high activity over three consecutive cycles without the need for reduction pretreatment. Comparative studies revealed that the combination of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and efficient electron transfer within the Cu⁰-Cu₂O-CuO composite was a key factor in enhancing the photocatalytic activity and stability. These findings provide new insights into the rational design of durable CuNP-based photocatalysts for visible-light-driven organic transformations. Full article

The photocatalytic degradation of Crystal Violet (CV) using ZnO-based nanomaterials presents a promising solution for addressing water pollution caused by synthetic dyes. This review highlights the exceptional efficiency of ZnO and its modified forms—such as doped, composite, and heterostructured variants—in degrading CV under both ultraviolet (UV) and solar irradiation. Key advancements include strategic bandgap engineering through doping (e.g., Cd, Mn, Co), innovative heterojunction designs (e.g., n-ZnO/p-Cu₂O, g-C₃N₄/ZnO), and composite formations with graphene oxide, which collectively enhance visible-light absorption and minimize charge recombination. The degradation mechanism, primarily driven by hydroxyl and superoxide radicals, leads to the complete mineralization of CV into non-toxic byproducts. Furthermore, this review emphasizes the emerging role of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) as superior tools for optimizing degradation parameters, demonstrating higher predictive accuracy and scalability compared to traditional methods like Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Potential operational challenges and future directions—including machine learning-driven optimization, real-effluent testing potential, and the development of solar-active catalysts—are further discussed. This work not only consolidates recent breakthroughs in ZnO-based photocatalysis but also provides a forward-looking perspective on sustainable wastewater treatment strategies. Full article