Water Purification and Catalytic Disintegration at the Nanoscale

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanotechnology is neither the idea of a single mind nor born by parthenogenesis. The unique features of nanomaterials are abundant in nature. From the extreme strength of spider silk to critical-for-life nano colloids (blood and milk) or nanostructures (hair, feathers, and skin bones), all miracles of the unceasing evolution for billions of years. The assembly of either one- (nanowires, nanofibers, and nanotubes), two- (nanoplates and nanosheets), or three (nanoparticles and nanospheres)-dimensional nanoforms is simply an inspired attempt to imitate this process. Their chemistry-relevant properties such as the multivalency effect, nanocavities, nanoporosity, and extremely high surface areas result in optimum adsorption, unparalleled separation, and potent catalytic properties. Additionally, they are easily prepared, stable, recyclable, and thus cost-effective. There are numerous environmental applications and perspectives on water purification and disinfection. Moreover, photocatalytic, sonocatalytic, and electrocatalytic processes offer alternatives and solutions for substate regeneration. Sophisticated composite catalysts amalgamating among other metals, carbon allotropes, organics, and ceramics mediate toxic substances' degradation paths offering far-reaching reaction rates and selectivities. This Topic, “Catalysis and Water Purification at the Nanoscale”, aims to typify trends, developments, implementations, and perspectives. Original research articles, short communications, and reviews describing innovative synthetic paths, physicochemical characterization adsorption, and catalytic properties are also within the scope of the collection

Dr. Michael Arkas
Prof. Dr. Ioannis Pashalidis
Dr. Dimitrios A. Giannakoudakis
Dr. Ioannis P. Anastopoulos
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Applied Nano applnano	-	4.6	2020	14.8 Days	CHF 1000	Submit
Catalysts catalysts	4.0	7.6	2011	16.6 Days	CHF 2200	Submit
Molecules molecules	4.6	8.6	1996	16.1 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Nanomaterials nanomaterials	4.3	9.2	2010	15.4 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Water water	3.0	6.0	2009	19.1 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Gels gels	5.3	7.6	2015	12.5 Days	CHF 2100	Submit
Polymers polymers	4.9	9.7	2009	14 Days	CHF 2700	Submit

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All Applied Nano Catalysts Molecules Nanomaterials Water Gels Polymers

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Open AccessArticle

The Synthesis and Photophysical Performance of a Novel Z-Scheme Ho₂FeSbO₇/Bi_0.5Yb_0.5O_1.5 Heterojunction Photocatalyst and the Photocatalytic Degradation of Ciprofloxacin Under Visible Light Irradiation

by Jingfei Luan, Anan Liu, Liang Hao, Boyang Liu and Hengchang Zeng

Nanomaterials 2025, 15(16), 1290; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15161290 - 21 Aug 2025

Viewed by 105

Abstract

A pyrochlore-type crystal structure photocatalytic nanomaterial, Ho₂FeSbO₇, was successfully synthesized using a hydrothermal method. Additionally, a fluorite-structured Bi_0.5Yb_0.5O_1.5 was prepared via rare earth Yb doping. Finally, a novel Ho₂FeSbO₇/Bi_0.5 [...] Read more.

A pyrochlore-type crystal structure photocatalytic nanomaterial, Ho₂FeSbO₇, was successfully synthesized using a hydrothermal method. Additionally, a fluorite-structured Bi_0.5Yb_0.5O_1.5 was prepared via rare earth Yb doping. Finally, a novel Ho₂FeSbO₇/Bi_0.5Yb_0.5O_1.5 heterojunction photocatalyst (HBHP) was fabricated using a solvothermal method. The crystal structure, surface morphology, and physicochemical properties of the samples were characterized using XRD, a micro-Raman spectrometer, FT-IR, XPS, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), TEM, and SEM. The results showed that Ho₂FeSbO₇ possessed a pyrochlore-type cubic crystal structure (space group Fd-3m, No. 227), while Bi_0.5Yb_0.5O_1.5 featured a fluorite-type cubic structure (space group Fm-3m, No. 225). The results of the degradation experiment indicated that when HBHP, Ho₂FeSbO₇, or Bi_0.5Yb_0.5O_1.5 was employed as a photocatalytic nanomaterial, following 140 min of visible light irradiation, the removal efficiency of ciprofloxacin (CIP) reached 99.82%, 86.15%, or 73.86%, respectively. This finding strongly evidenced the remarkable superiority of HBHP in terms of photocatalytic performance. Compared to the individual catalyst Ho₂FeSbO₇, Bi_0.5Yb_0.5O_1.5, or N-doped TiO₂, the removal efficiency of CIP by HBHP was 1.16 times, 1.36 times, or 2.52 times higher than that by Ho₂FeSbO₇, Bi_0.5Yb_0.5O_1.5, or N-doped TiO₂, respectively. The radical trapping experiments indicated that in the CIP degradation process, the hydroxyl radical owned the strongest oxidation ability, followed by the superoxide anion and the photoinduced hole. These studies are of great significance for the degradation of antibiotics and environmental protection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Water Purification and Catalytic Disintegration at the Nanoscale)

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