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Nanomaterials
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Advanced Nanomaterials for a Cleaner Environment and Environmental Health
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Advanced Nanomaterials for a Cleaner Environment and Environmental Health

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Nanoscience and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 May 2024) | Viewed by 7531

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Huan Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Jiangsu Province for Chemical Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China
Interests: photocatalysis; electrocatalysis; advanced oxidation technology; antibacterial; functional materials; graphitic carbon nitride
Prof. Dr. Xianchuan Xie

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Ministry of Education, School of Resources and Environmental, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
Interests: new environmental functional materials; technological innovation of water treatment; water pollution control of river/lake basin

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Multifunctional nanomaterials have high surface–volume ratios, efficient electron transfer and abundant unsaturated surface atoms at the nanoscale. Their excellent structures can significantly improve their advanced oxidation activity, showing efficient performance in the treatment of environmental pollutants and ecological remediation. In addition, the surface engineering, interface engineering and strain engineering tuning of multifunctional nanomaterials can easily lead to the increase in surface active centers. The synergistic effect and electronic modulation of these nanomaterials can greatly improve their performance in adsorption, photocatalysis, electrocatalysis and PMS activation, which is effectively applied to the treatment of various pollutants. From the perspective of material science research and practical engineering applications, functional nanomaterials offer infinite possibilities for creating a cleaner environment. In addition to pollutant treatment, multifunctional nanomaterials can also be used in the field of environmental health, such as antibacterials, in disease therapy and in cosmetic medicine, which is also important for a cleaner environment.

Many kinds of nanomaterials have been used in environmental remediation in various aspects. Among them, carbonaceous nanomaterials have become popular recently because of their unique carrier mobility, low microstructure and abundance. Through morphology regulation and heteroatom doping, efficient carbonaceous nanomaterials can be constructed from aspects of large surface area, light absorption capacity and electronic band structure, which can be used in the photocatalytic/electrocatalytic oxidation of organic pollutants as well as sterilization. Moreover, other functional nanomaterials, such as metal oxides, perovskite, frame materials and polymers also have the application potential in advanced oxidation technology, which is useful for environmental protection.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to describe the development of nano-functional materials and the latest progress in various environmental applications from the perspective of basic and application and to provide a strategic platform for creating a cleaner environment. Authors are invited to present original research and review articles that will stimulate the continuing efforts in this field.

Prof. Dr. Huan Chen
Prof. Dr. Xianchuan Xie
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • photocatalysis
  • electrocatalysis
  • adsorption
  • advanced oxidation technology
  • Fenton
  • pollutants treatment
  • wastewater treatment
  • ecological remediation
  • antibacterial
  • environmental health
  • carbon materials
  • transition metal materials

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2505 KiB  
Article
Antifungal Activity of ZnO Nanoparticles Synthesized from Eichhornia crassipes Extract for Construction Applications
by Rocío Vargas Hernández, Mayra A. Alvarez Lemus, Susana De la Rosa García, Rosendo López González, Patricia Quintana, David García Zaleta, Viridiana Velázquez Vázquez and Sergio Gómez Cornelio
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(12), 1007; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14121007 - 11 Jun 2024
Viewed by 553
Abstract
Fungal growth on construction materials in tropical climates can degrade aesthetics and manifestations on modern and historical sick buildings, affecting the health of their inhabitants. This study synthesized ZnO nanoparticles with enhanced antifungal properties using a precipitation method. Different concentrations (25%, 50%, and [...] Read more.
Fungal growth on construction materials in tropical climates can degrade aesthetics and manifestations on modern and historical sick buildings, affecting the health of their inhabitants. This study synthesized ZnO nanoparticles with enhanced antifungal properties using a precipitation method. Different concentrations (25%, 50%, and 100%) of Eichhornia crassipes aqueous extract were used with Zn(NO3)2·6H2O as the precursor to evaluate their spectroscopic, morphological, textural, and antifungal properties. X-ray diffraction confirmed the hexagonal wurtzite phase of ZnO with crystallite sizes up to 20 nm. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy identified absorption bands at 426, 503, and 567 cm−1 for ZnO-100, ZnO-50, and ZnO-25, respectively. Nitrogen physisorption indicated a type II isotherm with macropores and a fractal dimension coefficient near 2 across all concentrations. Polydispersity index analysis showed that ZnO-50 had a higher PDI, indicating a broader size distribution, while ZnO-25 and ZnO-100 exhibited lower PDI values, reflecting uniform and monodisperse particle sizes. FESEM observations revealed semi-spherical ZnO morphologies prone to agglomeration, particularly in ZnO-25. Antifungal tests highlighted ZnO-25 as the most effective, especially against Phoma sp. with an MFC/MIC ratio of 78 µg/mL. Poisoned plate assays demonstrated over 50% inhibition at 312 µg/mL for all tested fungi, outperforming commercial antifungals. The results indicate that ZnO NPs synthesized using E. crassipes extract effectively inhibit fungal growth on construction materials. This procedure offers a practical approach to improving the durability of building aesthetics and may contribute to reducing the health risks associated with exposure to fungal compounds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanomaterials for a Cleaner Environment and Environmental Health)
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13 pages, 2356 KiB  
Article
Interfacial Charge Transfer Effects of MoS2/α-Fe2O3 Nano-Heterojunction and Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution under Visible-Light Irradiation
by Tsung-Mo Tien and Edward L. Chen
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(20), 2763; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13202763 - 15 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1164
Abstract
Researchers have made efforts to develop high-productivity photocatalysts for photocatalytic hydrogen production to reduce the problem of a lack of energy. Bulk semiconductor photocatalysts mainly endure particular limitations, such as low visible light application, a quick recombination rate of electron–hole pairs, and poor [...] Read more.
Researchers have made efforts to develop high-productivity photocatalysts for photocatalytic hydrogen production to reduce the problem of a lack of energy. Bulk semiconductor photocatalysts mainly endure particular limitations, such as low visible light application, a quick recombination rate of electron–hole pairs, and poor photocatalytic efficiency. The major challenge is to improve solar-light-driven heterostructure photocatalysts that are highly active and stable under the photocatalytic system. In this study, the proposed nano-heterojunction exhibits a great capacity for hydrogen production (871.2 μmol g−1 h−1), which is over 8.1-fold and 12.3-fold higher than that of the bare MoS2 and bare α-Fe2O3 samples, respectively. It is demonstrated that the MoS2/α-Fe2O3 heterojunction gives rise to an enhanced visible light response and accelerated photoinduced charge carrier separation. This work provides an improved visible light absorption efficiency and a narrowed energy band gap, and presents a “highway” for electron–hole pairs to promote transfer and inhibit the combination of photoinduced charge carriers for the utilization of nano-heterojunction photocatalysts in the field of hydrogen production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanomaterials for a Cleaner Environment and Environmental Health)
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13 pages, 2043 KiB  
Article
A Thorough Examination of the Solution Conditions and the Use of Carbon Nanoparticles Made from Commercial Mesquite Charcoal as a Successful Sorbent for Water Remediation
by Tarig G. Ibrahim, Rasmiah S. Almufarij, Babiker Y. Abdulkhair, Rasha S. Ramadan, Mohamed S. Eltoum and Mohamed E. Abd Elaziz
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(9), 1485; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13091485 - 27 Apr 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1359
Abstract
Water pollution has invaded seas, rivers, and tap water worldwide. This work employed commercial Mesquite charcoal as a low-cost precursor for fabricating Mesquite carbon nanoparticles (MUCNPs) using a ball-milling process. The scanning electron energy-dispersive microscopy results for MUCNPs revealed a particle size range [...] Read more.
Water pollution has invaded seas, rivers, and tap water worldwide. This work employed commercial Mesquite charcoal as a low-cost precursor for fabricating Mesquite carbon nanoparticles (MUCNPs) using a ball-milling process. The scanning electron energy-dispersive microscopy results for MUCNPs revealed a particle size range of 52.4–75.0 nm. The particles were composed mainly of carbon with trace amounts of aluminum, potassium, calcium, titanium, and zinc. The X-ray diffraction peaks at 26.76 and 43.28 2θ° ascribed to the (002) and (100) planes indicated a crystalized graphite phase. Furthermore, the lack of FT-IR vibrations above 3000 cm−1 showed that the MUCNPs were not functionalized. The MUCNPs’ pore diameter, volume, and surface area were 114.5 Ǻ, 0.363 cm3 g−1, and 113.45 m2 g−1. The batch technique was utilized to investigate MUCNPs’ effectiveness in removing chlorohexidine gluconate (CHDNG) from water, which took 90 min to achieve equilibrium and had an adsorption capacity of 65.8 mg g−1. The adsorption of CHDNG followed pseudo-second-order kinetics, with the rate-limiting step being diffusion in the liquid film. The Langmuir isotherm dominated the CHDNG adsorption on the MUCNPs with a correlation coefficient of 0.99. The thermodynamic studies revealed that CHDNG adsorption onto the MUCNPs was exothermic and favorable, and its spontaneity increased inversely with CHDNG concentration. The ball-milling-made MUCNPs demonstrated consistent efficiency through regeneration–reuse cycles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanomaterials for a Cleaner Environment and Environmental Health)
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14 pages, 3704 KiB  
Article
Aramid Nanofibers/Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite Electrodes with High Mechanical Properties
by Jingyi Wang, Shaojie Lu, Mingyu Ye, Xiaowan Zhan, Hongbing Jia, Xin Liao and Antonio Francisco Arcanjo de Araújo Melo
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(1), 103; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13010103 - 25 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1859
Abstract
In this work, aramid nanofibers (ANFs)/reduced graphene oxide (ANFs/RGO) film electrodes were prepared by vacuum-assisted filtration, followed by hydroiodic acid reduction. Compared with thermal reduced ANFs/RGO, these as-prepared film electrodes exhibit a combination of mechanical and electrochemical properties with a tensile strength of [...] Read more.
In this work, aramid nanofibers (ANFs)/reduced graphene oxide (ANFs/RGO) film electrodes were prepared by vacuum-assisted filtration, followed by hydroiodic acid reduction. Compared with thermal reduced ANFs/RGO, these as-prepared film electrodes exhibit a combination of mechanical and electrochemical properties with a tensile strength of 184.5 MPa and a volumetric specific capacitance of 134.4 F/cm3 at a current density of 0.125 mA/cm2, respectively. In addition, the film electrodes also show a superior cycle life with 94.6% capacitance retention after 5000 cycles. This kind of free-standing film electrode may have huge potential for flexible energy-storage devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanomaterials for a Cleaner Environment and Environmental Health)
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16 pages, 2266 KiB  
Article
The Use of Pyrolytic Char Derived from Waste Tires in the Removal of Malachite Green from Dyeing Wastewater
by Dongliang Ji, Didi Gai, Yikun Xu, Zhaoqin Huang and Peitao Zhao
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(23), 4325; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12234325 - 5 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1316
Abstract
The organic dye malachite green (MG) poses a potential risk of cancer and fertility loss in humans and aquatic organisms. This study focused on a modified pyrolytic char (PC) derived from waste tires to efficiently remove MG from wastewater. Modified PC has rich [...] Read more.
The organic dye malachite green (MG) poses a potential risk of cancer and fertility loss in humans and aquatic organisms. This study focused on a modified pyrolytic char (PC) derived from waste tires to efficiently remove MG from wastewater. Modified PC has rich -OH functional groups, higher BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) surfaces of 74.4, 64.95, and 67.31 m2/g, and larger pore volumes of 0.52, 0.47, and 0.62 cm3/g for NaOH, Na2CO3, and CaO modification, respectively. The pseudo-second-order model fit the adsorption well, and the maximum equilibrium adsorption capacity was 937.8 mg/g for PC after CaO activation (CaO-PC). NaOH-modified PC (NaOH-PC) showed the best fit with the Langmuir model (R2 = 0.918). It is suggested that alkali-modified waste tire pyrolytic char could be a potential adsorbent for removing MG from dye-containing wastewater. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanomaterials for a Cleaner Environment and Environmental Health)
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Review

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39 pages, 3752 KiB  
Review
Harnessing Magnetic Nanoparticles for the Effective Removal of Micro- and Nanoplastics: A Critical Review
by Sabina Vohl, Matjaž Kristl and Janja Stergar
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(14), 1179; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14141179 - 11 Jul 2024
Viewed by 244
Abstract
The spread of micro- (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in the environment has become a significant environmental concern, necessitating effective removal strategies. In this comprehensive scientific review, we examine the use of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as a promising technology for the removal of MPs [...] Read more.
The spread of micro- (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in the environment has become a significant environmental concern, necessitating effective removal strategies. In this comprehensive scientific review, we examine the use of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as a promising technology for the removal of MPs and NPs from water. We first describe the issues of MPs and NPs and their impact on the environment and human health. Then, the fundamental principles of using MNPs for the removal of these pollutants will be presented, emphasizing that MNPs enable the selective binding and separation of MPs and NPs from water sources. Furthermore, we provide a short summary of various types of MNPs that have proven effective in the removal of MPs and NPs. These include ferromagnetic nanoparticles and MNPs coated with organic polymers, as well as nanocomposites and magnetic nanostructures. We also review their properties, such as magnetic saturation, size, shape, surface functionalization, and stability, and their influence on removal efficiency. Next, we describe different methods of utilizing MNPs for the removal of MPs and NPs. We discuss their advantages, limitations, and potential for further development in detail. In the final part of the review, we provide an overview of the existing studies and results demonstrating the effectiveness of using MNPs for the removal of MPs and NPs from water. We also address the challenges that need to be overcome, such as nanoparticle optimization, process scalability, and the removal and recycling of nanoparticles after the completion of the process. This comprehensive scientific review offers extensive insights into the use of MNPs for the removal of MPs and NPs from water. With improved understanding and the development of advanced materials and methods, this technology can play a crucial role in addressing the issues of MPs and NPs and preserving a clean and healthy environment. The novelty of this review article is the emphasis on MNPs for the removal of MPs and NPs from water and a detailed review of the advantages and disadvantages of various MNPs for the mentioned application. Additionally, a review of a large number of publications in this field is provided. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanomaterials for a Cleaner Environment and Environmental Health)
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