The applications of photocatalytic nanomaterial technology received intense scientific focus with the advent of nanotechnology. Applications based on TiO2 nanoparticles have shown promise of photocatalytic efficiency among many semiconductor metal oxides. Titanium dioxide is utilized in many practical applications such as water and air purification, self-cleaning of surfaces, and energy production. The major drawback with TiO2 based photocatalysts is the wide band gap, which requires UV light to produce the electron-hole pairs. This review article focus on techniques/methods to eliminate band gap which reduces photocatalytic efficiency. Application of semiconductor photocatalytic techniques to degrade organic pollutants and their antimicrobial activity is discussed here using model systems. Synthetic and natural nanohybrids are available today and have varying characteristics as options. Recently developed natural mineral based nanohybrids is the new trend in photocatalytic applications. It appears that the removal efficiency of existed photocatalysts is higher than that of synthetic products. Natural nanohybrids carry the advantages of low costs, avoiding extensive synthesizing conditions in future photocatalytic applications. تفاصيل المقالة

Single-atom catalysts have recently received much scientific attraction as sustainable catalysts due to their greater activity and selectivity arising from the uniform distribution, electronic properties, and quantum mechanical interactions at the nanoscale of single atoms coupled with interactions at the metal-support interfaces. Carbon-based materials are an excellent support material for single-atom catalysts owing to their inherent properties such as adjustable pore size, high surface area to volume ratio, and ease of surface functionalization. The interactions at the single atom-carbon support interfaces give rise to the extraordinary catalytic activity in carbon-based single metal catalysts thus opening doors for a wide range of sustainable applications. This review focuses on the evolution of carbon-based single-atom catalysis covering different types of carbon substrates, usage of different single atoms with special attention to transition metals, and its wide range of applications including photocatalysis, organic catalysis, and electrocatalysis followed by the future perspectives on carbon-based single-atom catalysts. تفاصيل المقالة