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Review Article Issue
Nanomaterials for the abatement of cadmium (Ⅱ) ions from water/wastewater
Nano Research 2019, 12 (7): 1489-1507
Published: 07 March 2019
Downloads:19

The rapid rise of modern industry is the source of unchecked effluents containing many pernicious heavy metals (e.g., cadmium). To rehabilitate the ecology, food resources, and health of humans and animals, various conventional methodologies are being used in wastewater treatment facilities for the abatement of cadmium. Nonetheless, the development of advanced, economical, and efficient adsorbents is needed because of the many shortcomings of conventional methods (e.g., high cost, intensive operation, and inefficiency). Recent advancements in materials science and chemistry have introduced the use of nanomaterials, which possess very high specific surface areas and multiple functionalities, for the removal of specific targets such as cadmium. This review explores the recent developments and trends in nanomaterial adsorption technology for the mitigation of cadmium. The paper further surveys the present obstacles and future opportunities for the advancement of nanomaterial-based technologies in the area of water treatment.

Review Article Issue
Photocatalysts for degradation of dyes in industrial effluents: Opportunities and challenges
Nano Research 2019, 12 (5): 955-972
Published: 17 January 2019
Downloads:71

Discharging dye contaminants into water is a major concern around the world. Among a variety of methods to treat dye-contaminated water, photocatalytic degradation has gained attention as a tool for treating the colored water. Herein, we review the recent advancements in photocatalysis for dye degradation in industrial effluents by categorizing photocatalyst materials into three generations. First generation photocatalysts are composed of single-component materials (e.g., TiO2, ZnO, and CdS), while second generation photocatalysts are composed of multiple components in a suspension (e.g., WO3/NiWO4, BiOI/ZnTiO3, and C3N4/Ag3VO4). Photocatalysts immobilized on solid substrates are regarded as third generation materials (e.g., FTO/WO3-ZnO, Steel/TiO2-WO3, and Glass/P-TiO2). Photocatalytic degradation mechanisms, factors affecting the dye degradation, and the lesser-debated uncertainties related to the photocatalysis are also discussed to offer better insights into environmental applications. Furthermore, quantum yields of different photocatalysts are calculated, and a performance evaluation method is proposed to compare photocatalyst systems for dye degradation. Finally, we discuss the present limitations of photocatalytic dye degradation for field applications and the future of the technology.

Review Article Issue
Nanomaterials for sensing of formaldehyde in air: Principles, applications, and performance evaluation
Nano Research 2019, 12 (2): 225-246
Published: 29 September 2018
Downloads:23

Despite the improvement in sensing technologies, detection of small and highly reactive molecules like formaldehyde remains a highly challenging area of research. Applications of nanomaterials/nanostructures and their composites have increased as effective sensing platforms (e.g., reaction time, sensitivity, and selectivity) for the detection of aqueous or gaseous formaldehyde based on diverse sensing principles. In this review, the basic aspects of important nanomaterial-based sensing systems (e.g., electrochemical, electrical, biological, and mass variation sensors) were evaluated in relation to performance, cost, and practicality of sensing gas phase formaldehyde. Accordingly, existing knowledge gaps in such applications were assessed in various respects along with suitable recommendations for building a new roadmap for the expansion of chemical sensing technology of gas phase formaldehyde.

Review Article Issue
Recent advances in controlled modification of the size and morphology of metal-organic frameworks
Nano Research 2018, 11 (9): 4441-4467
Published: 11 April 2018
Downloads:33

Advances in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) resulted in significant contributions to diverse applications such as carbon capture, gas storage, heat transformation and separation along with emerging applications toward catalysis, medical imaging, drug delivery, and sensing. The unique in situ and ex situ structural features of MOFs can be tailored by conceptual selection of the organic (e.g., ligand) and inorganic (e.g., metal) components. Here, we provide a comprehensive review on the synthesis and characterization of MOFs, particularly with respect to controlling their size and morphology. A better understanding of the specific size and morphological parameters of MOFs will help initiate a new era for their real-world applications. Most importantly, this assessment will help develop novel synthesis methods for MOFs and their hybrid/porous materials counterparts with considerably improved properties in targeted applications.

Review Article Issue
Coordination polymers: Challenges and future scenarios for capture and degradation of volatile organic compounds
Nano Research 2016, 9 (11): 3181-3208
Published: 01 September 2016
Downloads:16

Over the past few decades, coordination polymers/metal organic frameworks (CPs/MOFs) have drawn a great deal of attention for diverse applications due to their advantages of intrinsically tunable chemical structure, flexible architecture, high pore volume, high surface area, multifunctional properties, etc. To date, numerous CPs/MOFs have been developed and employed for the treatment and control of gaseous pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), through capture, sorptive removal, and catalytic degradation. Nevertheless, there are also some key drawbacks and challenges for the practical application of these systems (e.g., poor selectivity, high energy (and fiscal) cost, high synthesis cost, low capacity, and difficulties in regeneration and recycling). In this review, recent developments in CPs/MOFs research are described with their associated mechanisms for capture, sorptive removal, and catalytic degradation of VOCs. To this end, we discuss the key variables and challenges for afforded abatement of VOCs through CPs/MOFs technologies. Hopefully, this review will help the scientific community set future directions for the advancement of CPs/MOFs techniques for the effective management of diverse environmental issues.

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