A new material, made by coating tiny beads of a resin with a conductive polymer, can turn sunlight into a powerful cleaning agent. The resin bead is called resorcinol‑formaldehyde and the polymer is polypyrrole. When light hits this combo, it grabs electrons from water and releases oxygen‑based mole
TiO2 nanoparticles are like tiny superheroes in the world of environmental science. They help clean up pollutants, but they need a boost to work better under visible light. Scientists have found a way to make them more powerful by adding tiny amounts of aluminum and sulfur. When these elements are
Scientists have been looking into ways to break down Trichloroethylene (TCE) because it is bad for both people and the planet. TCE is a solvent often used in factories. One interesting method is using light to speed up a chemical reaction. The process involves shining ultraviolet (UV) ligh
Platinum, a precious metal, can significantly boost the production of superoxide, a crucial molecule in chemistry and environmental science. When platinum is used as a catalyst in the form of single atoms, it can greatly enhance the creation of superoxide on a material called titania. This process i
Porphyrins and polyoxometalates are two types of compounds that can work together to make a new kind of photocatalyst. This photocatalyst can be used to recover valuable metals like silver and platinum. The process uses visible light, which is a big advantage over traditional methods that rely on hi
Metal nanoclusters, or NCs, are super small and precise. They are special because they have unique energy properties and lots of active sites for reactions. But, they face some big challenges. They can't keep their energy for very long, they aren't very stable, and it's hard to control how they move
Imagine a world where tiny structures could break down pollutants, generate clean energy, and help reduce greenhouse gases. Titanium-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) like NH 2 -MIL-125(Ti) are leading the way in making this possible. These materials are special because they're very porous, st
Antibiotics in our water bodies are a big problem. They harm aquatic life and can make us sick. Scientists have been looking into how to break down these drugs in water. One way is by using a special material called a photocatalyst. This material can use light to break down pollutants like antibioti
You know how tiny nanocrystals are super important for light-driven reactions? Well, scientists are looking at CsPbBr3 nanocrystals, or CPB NCs, because they're fantastic at absorbing light. But they've got a downside: they struggle with charge recombination, which affects their ability to catalyze
Imagine trying to clean up the air by using sunlight to convert CO2 into something useful. This is what scientists call photocatalytic CO2 reduction. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a popular material for this job, but it's not perfect. Impurities like sulfur dioxide (SO2) can mess things up. Scientists
