Metal oxide-carbon nanotube composites for photodegradation

Environmental pollution is a serious global issue that affects millions of lives every day. Industries that use hydrocarbon compounds, heavy metals, and dyes, both directly and indirectly, are primary sources of air and water contamination by discharging these pollutants into untreated water bodies. Eco-friendly techniques like photodegradation that use solar energy for pollutant degradation are alternative treatments to remove microbial and toxic organic compounds and allow complete mineralization of dyes that come specifically from water. Advanced oxidation processes using sunlight and photoactive semiconducting materials are known as proficient photodegradation processes. Metallic nanoparticles are consumed as photocatalysts because of their large surface areas, availability, effectiveness, chemical reactivity, and eco-friendly natures. This chapter discusses these photodegradation methods and the role and performance of metal oxides and metal oxide-carbon nanotube hybrid materials in pollutant photodegradation.