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Niobium Oxide for Microplastics Degradation—the Effect of Crystal Structure and Morphology
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Researchers tested different crystal structures of niobium oxide as photocatalysts for degrading microplastics under light irradiation, finding that crystal structure and surface area strongly influenced degradation efficiency and identifying the most effective form for use in environmental remediation.
Microplastic (MP) pollution is ubiquitous in the environment and there is a significant need for the development of photocatalysts for environmental remediation of microplastic pollution. Herein, the effect of the structure and morphology of Nb 2 O 5 nanostructures on their photocatalytic activity for MP degradation is investigated. Nanostructures with a high fraction of pseudohexagonal TT‐Nb 2 O 5 phase are shown to effectively degrade pure polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyester, as well as MP samples collected from the environment. Efficient photocatalytic degradation of the microplastics is attributed to the unique structure and morphology (TT‐Nb 2 O 5 nanoparticles on monoclinic Nb 2 O 5 rods), which facilitates charge separation and consequently photocatalytic activity. The Nb 2 O 5 nanostructures with optimal composition and morphology lead to efficient degradation of not only pure plastic particles with different compositions (polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyester) in up to 64 h, but also complete degradation of environmental microplastics in 56 h.
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Researchers tested the efficiency of multiple titanium dioxide microstructures for photocatalytic degradation of nanoplastics in aquatic environments, addressing the growing problem of sub-micron plastic fragments in global water systems. TiO2-based photocatalysis showed varying effectiveness depending on catalyst structure and particle properties.
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Researchers reviewed how hybrid materials — combinations of multiple substances engineered at the nanoscale — can serve as highly effective photocatalysts to break down microplastics and nanoplastics using light energy. These multi-functional materials improve electron separation and reaction efficiency compared to single-component catalysts, representing a promising technological pathway for removing persistent plastic particles from the environment.
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