Carbon Nanotubes based Nanocomposites as Photocatalysts in Water Treatment

Abstract

The shortage of worldwide clean water and the increasing water demand are now ubiquitous problems around the world. Thus, efficient water treatment is an important research topic, of which phocatalysis is known as simplest and efficient technique utilized in the photocatalytic degradation of all major water pollutants, including heavy metal ion, organic and inorganic pollutants. In this context, the use of one- dimensional carbon nanotubes-based nanocomposites in water treatment have been widely demonstrated to be capable of removing persistent organic compounds due to their unique physical and electronic properties, large surface area, tunable morphology, biocompatible and chemical-environmental-thermal stability. This chapter begins with the discussion of the importance and properties of carbon nanotubes, and then briefs about the types and methods of preparation of carbon nanotubes-based nanocomposites in detail. The next section emphasizes the fundamentals of photocatalysis phenomenon and its proposed mechanism for the photocatalytic degradation of pollutants. The last section highlights the recent development in the carbon-based nanocomposites as photocatalyst in water treatment systems, supported by comprehensive literature account. Finally, the remaining challenges and perspectives for using carbon nanotubes-based nanocomposites are discussed.