Photocatalytic degradation of water pollutants using conducting polymer-based nanohybrids: A review on recent trends and future prospects

Abstract

Current research activities are highly focused towards the development of facile techniques for waste water remediation. Semiconductor based photocatalysis has been chosen as one of the promising methods for the degradation of toxic pollutants from the wastewater. Recently, conducting polymers (CPs) and its nanohybrids have attracted much attention due to their electrochemical properties, photo-stability, low cost, and efficacy. The nanohybrids of CPs with metal, metal oxides and other semiconductor materials have shown excellent photocatalytic activity for the degradation of toxic organic pollutants including dyes, pesticides and pharmaceuticals drugs. The present review highlights the recent advances in the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants using CPs and CP based nanohybrids. We have discussed the synthesis of CP based nanohybrids, general background of the photocatalysis and the mechanism of photocatalytic degradation under different light sources. The review is expected to be of high importance to the researchers working in the area of heterogeneous photocatalysis using CPs.