Solid State Nanostructured Metal Oxides as Photocatalysts and Their Application in Pollutant Degradation: A Review

Most dyes used in various industries are toxic and carcinogenic, thus posing a serious hazard to humans as well the marine ecosystem. Therefore, impact of released into environment has been studied extensively last few years. Heterogeneous photocatalysis proved be an efficient tool for degrading both atmospheric aquatic organic contaminants. It uses sunlight presence semiconductor photocatalyst accelerate remediation environmental contaminants destruction highly molecules. To date, considered one most appealing options wastewater treatment due its great potential high efficiency by using remove pollutants harmful bacteria with aid solid photocatalyst. Among photocatalysts currently used, nanostructured metal oxide semiconductors have among effective. This review paper presents overview recent research improvements on degradation obtained solid-state method. Metal oxides this method exhibited better photocatalytic than other solution methods several cases. The present discusses examples transition oxides—such TiO2, Fe2O3, NiO, ReO3, IrO2, Rh2O3, Rh/RhO2, actinide ThO2—used methylene blue. was found that depends not only bandgap but also morphology. Porous tend higher similar band gap.