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Recently, scientists at the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST) have developed an innovative metal oxide nanocomposite that can help in degradation of organic pollutants. 

More on the News

• A new metal oxide nanocomposite has been developed that can help photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants like dyes and pharmaceuticals and hence it can be used as sustainable technologies for cleaning up the environment.
  Photocatalytic degradation refers to an environmentally friendly technology that utilizes semiconductor materials, such as titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and zinc oxide (ZnO), to break down organic pollutants present in water bodies. 
• Metal oxide photocatalysis offers a sustainable solution for removing organic pollutants from water bodies. When the semiconductor materials are exposed to light, they generate electron-hole pairs that degrade pollutants into harmless by-products. 
• Ni-doped TiO₂ on Fuller’s earth (NiTF) was characterized and tested as a photocatalyst for methylene blue decolourization.
• NiTF achieved 96.15% decolorization of dye solution at pH 9.0 under visible light for 90 minutes. Fuller’s earth improved TiO₂ adsorption in the dark, suggesting cost-effective environmental photocatalysts. 
• This work was recently published in the journal Elsevier (Inorganic Chemistry Communications).

Significance

• It can be used as a sustainable technology for cleaning up the environment.
• Metal oxide photocatalysis offers a sustainable solution for removing organic pollutants from water bodies.
• The nanocomposite prepared can have potential applications in catalysis, energy storage, sensors, optoelectronics, biomedical fields, coatings, and renewable energy production through water splitting.