Shape and Size Dependent Nanostructures for Environmental Applications

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Background

Environmental contamination is the most recognized problem in the current era. The environment is contaminated in many ways, notably by pesticides, dyes, and organic pollutants. These contaminants cause severe damage to human health and the environment. To detect these contaminants, anisotropic nanostructures (ANS) stand on the front line, as ANS possess unique directional properties, these are the most suitable materials for the ultra-low detection of environmental contaminants. However, the proper tuning of the shape and size of ANS is necessary for this ultra-low detection. Hence, appropriate synthetic procedures can be employed in this regard to synthesize monodisperse and high yield shape dependent nanostructures. Among different sensing techniques and methods, surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is the most efficient for the ultra-low sensing of contaminants. ANS are not only useful for the sensing of these contaminants, but can also be used in catalytic applications, wastewater treatment, dye degradation, and organic pollutant removal.

The main problem in sensing is achieving ultra-low detection with a short time interval. Even concentrations below the permissible limit can lead to serious health concerns with prolonged usage. To achieve better detection limits, monodisperse nanostructures with specific shape and size, and a proper faceted ANS are required. Wet chemical synthesis is the better option to synthesize desired ANS due to the simplicity of the method in tuning the required morphology with high yield. Most of the SERS substrates are complicated in fabrication, rigid, and have low stability. Hence, there is a high demand for the fabrication of simple, flexible, and stable SERS substrates. The most difficult part is the recovery of the ANS from the reaction solution, and even though the composite materials solve this issue, the observed high loading of ANS, it is not economical. Hence, the composite materials can be synthesized with the low loading of ANS as low loading is always the preferred method to reduce the cost of the nanomaterials.

This Research Topic welcomes Original Research, Reviews, Mini Reviews, and Perspectives on the following, but not limited to, themes:
• Synthesis of different ANS with different metals ranging from noble metals including low-cost metals
• Synthesis of alloys, core-shell, composites, and flexible SERS substrates
• Use of SERS in the sensing of various environmental contaminants (pesticides, dyes, organic pollutants, etc.)
• Use of ANS in different catalytic applications, wastewater treatment, and the degradation and removal of organic pollutants

Keywords: Anisotropic nanostructures, Environmental applications, sensing, catalysis, wastewater treatment

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