Synthesis of Nanomaterials For Improving Air Quality Index

Abstract

newline The contamination produced in the environment by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons newline(organic pollutants) is a serious alarm across the globe and that has developed a severe newlinethreat to not only human beings but to other living beings as well. In recent years, newlinephysical and biological treatment methods such as ultrafiltration, adsorption, newlinecoagulation etc. have been the most basic methods to eliminate organic pollutants from newlineenvironment especially from air. The degradation of these organic pollutants by newlinephotocatalysis is considered as an efficient and effective way which has attracted newlinetremendous attention recently. newlineThis research study is an inclusive effort to fabricate an efficient photocatalyst in order newlineto find a solution for environmental, special emphasis is on air pollution. Photocatalysis newlineis one of the most capable processes which utilize abundant sunlight energy. Initially, newlinewe have used graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide quantum dots newline(rGOQDTs) as semiconducting photocatalysts which were synthesized by modified newlinehummers method and hydrothermal method respectively. Though, reduced quantumyield newlinedue to fast recombination of charge carriers (electron-hole pairs), sternly limits newlinetheir use as very efficient solar photocatalyst under visible light illumination. Therefore, newlinethere is a growing interest in the enhancement of visible light response of these newlinegraphene-based semiconductors. For this, we have developed a strategy of combining newlineGO and rGOQDTs with some other semiconductor material which comes in the newlinecategory of transition metal oxide. We have successfully fabricated binary nanocomposites newlineby the successful hybridization of GO and rGOQDTs with VO2 nanoparticles newlinevia ultrasonicating, which is cleaner and greener approach.