This book explains the basic and fundamental aspects of nanotechnology and the potential use of nanostructured photocatalysts in various applications, especially in the context of the environment and energy harvesting. It describes the preparation and characterization of unique nanostructured photocatalysts and provides details of their catalytic action, and also discusses the design of new types of photocatalysts with controlled nanostructures. Given its broad scope, the book will appeal to academic and industrial researchers interested in heterogeneous photocatalysis, sustainable chemistry, energy conversion and storage, nanotechnology, chemical engineering, environmental protection, optoelectronics, sensors and surface and interface science.

This book serves the environmentalists to track the development of photocatalytic materials and technology in the present context and to explore future trends. Photocatalysis is the most influential greener technology being researched, developed and adopted for the treatment of wastewater. The technological advancements in the area of smart hybrid photocatalytic materials have gained momentum in the present era. The rational designing of photocatalytic materials with a multi-pronged approach opens a new chapter for environmental detoxification. Other important aspects relate to the transfer of this nanostructured photocatalytic technology to real backdrops. Harnessing natural solar energy for energy and environmental roles is another crucial criterion in designing photocatalysts.

Full-Spectrum Responsive Photocatalytic Materials: From Fundamentals to Applications provides a comprehensive overview on the design, synthesis concepts, mechanisms, characterization techniques, and advances and limitations in applications of full-spectrum responsive photocatalytic materials. The book starts with the fundamentals of full-spectrum responsive materials. It then discusses the problems of most semiconductors that are not active in the whole solar spectrum and explains the benefits of utilizing full-spectrum responsive photocatalysts. Other sections describe examples of full-spectrum responsive photocatalysts classified by material types and provide the design principles and characterization protocols for these promising materials. Photocatalysis technology based on semiconductor materials holds great promise in various fields due to its potential advantages in energy-saving, cost and environmental impact. Maximizing the utilization of solar energy is always the target of pursuits in the areas of photocatalysis, and understanding and constructing appropriate full-spectrum (UV-VIS-NIR) responsive photocatalytic materials offer ways to better realize the practical utilization of photocatalysis. Provides new insights into full-spectrum (UV-VIS-NIR) responsive photocatalysts and successful approaches for developing these materials Assists readers working to develop more efficient catalysts and establish a solid structure–activity correlation Suggests possibilities for the alteration of conventional photocatalysts to utilize the full spectrum of solar light

This book includes fourteen chapters on photocatalysis. It provides a thorough overview of the latest research on photocatalysts and examines recent trends in the field. Chapters address such topics as metal-organic frameworks, semiconductors, self–cleaning coatings and surfaces, the use of “green” agents to fabricate materials, fabrication of advanced nanocomposites for the production of hydrogen, bifunctional catalysts for metal-air batteries, and much more.

Nanotechnology and Photocatalysis for Environmental Applications focuses on nanostructured control, synthesis methods, activity enhancement strategies, environmental applications, and perspectives of semiconductor-based nanostructures. The book offers future guidelines for designing new semiconductor-based photocatalysts, with low cost and high efficiency, for a range of products aimed at environmental protection. The book covers the fundamentals of nanotechnology, the synthesis of nanotechnology, and the use of metal oxide, metal sulfide, and carbon-based nanomaterials in photocatalysis. The book also discusses the major challenges of using photocatalytic nanomaterials on a broad scale. The book then explores how photocatalytic nanomaterials and nanocomposites are being used for sustainable development applications, including environmental protection, pharmaceuticals, and air purification. The final chapter considers the recent advances in the field and outlines future perspectives on the technology. This is an important reference for materials scientists, chemical engineers, energy scientists, and anyone looking to understand more about the photocatalytic potential of nanomaterials, and their possible environmental applications. Explains why the properties of semiconductor-based nanomaterials make them particularly good for environmental applications Explores how photocatalytic nanomaterials and nanocomposites are being used for sustainable development applications, including environmental protection, pharmaceuticals, and air purification Discusses the major challenges of using photocatalytic nanomaterials on a broad scale