Comparative photoactivity of CeO2, γ-Fe2O3, TiO2 and ZnO in various aqueous systems

Abstract

Photoactive nanomaterials may be released into natural water systems where the interactions with ambient light and natural water chemistry are largely unknown. Using a high-throughput approach, the photoactivity of four nanoscale metal oxides was investigated, at various environmentally relevant concentrations. Photoactivity was measured in deionized water at various pH and also in seawater. TiO2 was the most photoactive nanoparticle under most deionized conditions followed by γ-Fe2O3, ZnO and CeO2. In natural seawater ZnO replaced TiO2 as the most photoactive nanomaterial and was followed in decreasing photoactivity by TiO2. In seawater, CeO2 reduced the degradation of the organic probe, suggesting the ability of CeO2 to act as an antioxidant. The high-throughput method developed in this research enables a rapid, reproducible and accurate assessment of nanomaterial photoactivity.