In-and-out of inert sites on high-entropy layered double hydroxide to facilitate peroxymonosulfate-assisted photocatalytic removal of microplastics

Nanotechnology-Enhanced Photocatalysis for Microplastic Degradation: A Sustainable Approach

Advanced photocatalytic materials for micro/nanoplastic degradation: A comprehensive review

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Tiny plastic particles called micro- and nanoplastics are turning up everywhere, in our oceans, soil, and likely our bodies, raising concerns about long-term health effects. This review rounds up the latest science on using light-activated materials (photocatalysts) to break down these plastic particles, including newer "green" methods made from plants, algae, and bacteria that could make cleanup cheaper and more eco-friendly. While these technologies are still being developed rather than ready for widespread use, they represent a promising direction for tackling plastic pollution at its source.

Manganese oxide-mediated inhibition of microplastic photodegradation: insight into the photoreduction mechanism

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Researchers found that manganese oxides significantly inhibit photodegradation of polystyrene and PVC microplastics by scavenging reactive oxygen species and forming light-shielding complexes, reducing breakdown rates by nearly 58%, challenging the view that minerals accelerate microplastic degradation.

Application of nanocomposites based on TiO2 and clay minerals for the photocatalytic degradation of low-density polyethylene microplastics

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Researchers tested TiO2-clay mineral nanocomposites as photocatalysts for degrading low-density polyethylene microplastics under UV-A light, achieving up to 31% mass loss with TiO2-kaolinite under acidic conditions, outperforming bare TiO2 due to an improved optical band gap and enhanced photocatalytic activity.

Photocatalytic-Driven Self-Degradation of Polyester Microplastics Under Solar Light

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"Researchers synthesized a polyester fiber modified with a g-C3N4/TiO2 photocatalyst that can self-degrade under solar illumination, achieving near-complete breakdown into CO2 and water after 400 hours of light exposure. Designing plastics that decompose under sunlight rather than fragmenting into persistent microplastics offers a proactive materials-level strategy to reduce the volume of synthetic polymer pollution entering ecosystems."