Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Synergistically Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation by Coupling Slow-Photon Effect with Z-Scheme Charge Transfer in CdS QDs/IO-TiO2 Heterojunction

Researchers fabricated a CdS quantum dot/inverse opal TiO2 heterojunction photocatalyst that couples the slow-photon effect from the periodic inverse opal structure with Z-scheme charge transfer to simultaneously improve light absorption and reduce carrier recombination. The novel architecture achieved synergistically enhanced photocatalytic degradation performance compared to either component alone.

2023 Molecules 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution reduction by a carbon and nitrogen-doped TiO2: Effect of pH and temperature in the photocatalytic degradation process

Scientists tested a carbon and nitrogen-doped TiO2 photocatalyst for degrading microplastics and found that degradation efficiency depended strongly on pH and temperature, with optimal conditions achieving significant surface mineralization of tested polymer types.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 432 citations
Article Tier 2

Preparation of S-C3N4/AgCdS Z-Scheme Heterojunction Photocatalyst and Its Effectively Improved Photocatalytic Performance

This paper is not about microplastics. It describes the development of a photocatalyst material (S-doped carbon nitride with silver-doped cadmium sulfide) designed to degrade organic dyes like Rhodamine B and methyl orange. While photocatalytic technology could theoretically be applied to plastic degradation, this study focuses entirely on dye removal chemistry with no connection to microplastic contamination or health effects.

2024 Molecules 5 citations
Article Tier 2

TiO2-based photocatalysts for the degradation of microplastics in aquatic environments

Researchers synthesized TiO2-based photocatalysts via sol-gel and hydrothermal methods and characterized their morphology and photocatalytic properties for the degradation of microplastics in aqueous environments, optimizing catalyst formulations to improve efficiency and assessing their potential as an environmentally friendly advanced treatment for waterborne microplastic pollution.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Investigation of the efficiency of several TiO2 microstructures for the photocatalytic degradation of nanoplastics.

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.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Low Environmental Impact Remediation of Microplastics: Visible-Light Photocatalytic Degradation of PET Microplastics Using Bio-Inspired C,N-TiO2/SiO2 Photocatalysts

Researchers developed bio-inspired carbon and nitrogen co-doped TiO2/SiO2 photocatalysts capable of degrading PET microplastics under visible light, offering a low-energy alternative to UV-based photocatalysis for remediating microplastic contamination in aquatic environments.

2023 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigation of the efficiency of several TiO2 microstructures for the photocatalytic degradation of nanoplastics.

This study tested the efficiency of several TiO2 microstructures as photocatalysts for degrading nanoplastics in aquatic environments. Results identified the most effective TiO2 configurations for breaking down sub-micron plastic fragments under light exposure.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Efficiency of Hybrid Materials for Photocatalytic Degradation of Micro‐ and Nano‐Plastics

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.

2025
Article Tier 2

Photodegradation of polyethylene debris in water by sulfur-doped TiO2: system optimization, degradation mechanism, and reusability

This study optimized the photodegradation of polyethylene bag debris in water using sulfur-doped titanium dioxide as a photocatalyst, finding that controlling pH, catalyst dose, and polyethylene concentration improved degradation efficiency. The results offer a promising approach for breaking down plastic waste in water environments.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Construction of Hollow TiO2/ZnS Heterojunction Photocatalysts for Highly Enhanced Photodegradation of Tetracycline Hydrochloride

A hollow TiO2/ZnS heterojunction photocatalyst was constructed for degrading organic pollutants under light irradiation, showing enhanced performance due to improved charge carrier separation at the material interface. Such photocatalysts are candidates for treating wastewater containing plastic-derived chemical contaminants.

2025 Molecules 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Photocatalytic degradation of polyethylene microplastics by copper-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles

Researchers investigated photocatalytic degradation of polyethylene microplastics using copper-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles as an efficient approach to breaking down aquatic plastic pollution, addressing the limitations of conventional removal methods that only achieve surface-level reduction.

2025 Chemosphere
Article Tier 2

Preparation of heterojunction C3N4/WO3 photocatalyst for degradation of microplastics in water

Researchers synthesized a carbon nitride/tungsten oxide heterojunction photocatalyst that effectively degrades PET microplastics in water while simultaneously generating hydrogen, offering a dual-benefit approach to addressing plastic pollution through photocatalysis.

2023 Chemosphere 52 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of LDPE microplastics using TiO2-kaolinite and TiO2-montmorillonite nanomaterials

Researchers developed TiO2-kaolinite and TiO2-montmorillonite nanomaterial composites and evaluated their photocatalytic performance in degrading low-density polyethylene (LDPE) microplastics. The clay-mineral composites showed enhanced photocatalytic degradation efficiency compared to unmodified TiO2, offering a promising approach to treating environmental microplastic contamination.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of LDPE microplastics using TiO2-kaolinite and TiO2-montmorillonite nanomaterials

Researchers enhanced the photocatalytic degradation of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) microplastics by developing TiO2-kaolinite and TiO2-montmorillonite nanocomposite materials, testing their effectiveness as part of efforts to address the ~300 million tonnes of plastic produced annually that accumulates in the environment.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Processing of bio-based photocatalytic sponge-like structures containing C,N-TiO2 colloidally dispersed onto cellulose nanofibers for microplastic remediation

Researchers immobilized C,N-doped TiO2 photocatalyst onto cellulose nanofiber sponges derived from agricultural biomass, creating a bio-based photocatalytic material that degrades microplastics under light while being easily recoverable without centrifugation or filtration.

2025 Journal of Environmental Management 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Niobium Oxide for Microplastics Degradation—the Effect of Crystal Structure and Morphology

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.

2025 Small Structures 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Photodegradation of microplastics through nanomaterials: Insights into photocatalysts modification and detailed mechanisms

This review explores how nanomaterial-enhanced photocatalysts can break down microplastics that conventional water treatment fails to remove. The paper details key strategies like element doping and heterojunction construction that improve degradation efficiency, and explains the underlying mechanisms involving free radical formation and singlet oxygen oxidation.

2024 Preprints.org 8 citations
Article Tier 2

State of the art in the photochemical degradation of (micro)plastics: from fundamental principles to catalysts and applications

This review summarizes research on the photochemical degradation of plastics and microplastics into value-added products and intermediates via photocatalysis. The study covers fundamental principles and catalytic approaches for breaking down plastic pollutants that are otherwise difficult to degrade in the environment.

2023 Journal of Materials Chemistry A 94 citations
Article Tier 2

Design of Green TiO2-Based Semiconductors for Microplastic and Nanoplastic Photocatalytic Degradation

Researchers developed green TiO2-based photocatalysts using mussel extrapallial fluid as a doping agent to degrade polystyrene and polyethylene micro- and nanoplastics, finding that operational conditions and semiconductor crystallinity were more critical to degradation efficiency than surface area alone.

2023 Preprints.org 8 citations
Article Tier 2

The Role of the Reactive Species Involved in the Photocatalytic Degradation of HDPE Microplastics Using C,N-TiO2 Powders

Researchers used carbon and nitrogen co-doped titanium dioxide photocatalysts to degrade high-density polyethylene microplastics under simulated solar light, identifying hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anions as the primary reactive species responsible for surface oxidation and chain scission of the polymer.

2021 Polymers 147 citations