Page 220 - Polymer-based Nanocomposites for Energy and Environmental Applications
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192                Polymer-based Nanocomposites for Energy and Environmental Applications

         The main phenomenon accountable for this application is catalytic degradation
         [101,102] and pollutant adsorption [103,104]. Moreover, PNCs are widely used in
         sensing and detecting trace-level pollutants. Environmentally friendly PNC applica-
         tions comprise packaging films such as overwraps, shopping bags, waste and bin-liner
         bags, composting bags, bait bags and cling wrap, flushable sanitary products, planter
         boxes and fishing nets, food service cups, and drinking straws [105–111]. PNCs also
         have the applications in the eco-friendly applications to reduce the release of environ-
         mental contaminants into environment. The aim of this section is to deliver informa-
         tion on the eco-friendly PNC materials for various kinds of environmental
         applications with recent studies in this area.



         6.3.1  Catalytic and redox degradations of pollutants
         Nanoparticles have great prospective as catalysts and redox active medium owing to
         its enormous specific surface area nature, superior reactivity, and electronic and cat-
         alytic property, which have fascinated the worldwide researchers to concentrate on
         effective catalytic materials for the removal of contaminants from the polluted liquids
         and gases. Nano-TiO 2 is considered to be extensively studied catalyst materials for
         degradation of organic pollutants [112–114]. Due to the superior photocatalytic
         behavior of TiO 2 , the PNC materials are projected to be antioxidative in light illumi-
         nation condition.
            In literature, polymeric-based substrates were based on fluoropolymers, such as
         poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) [115], polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) [116], polyethyl-
         ene (PE) [117], polypropylene (PP) [118], poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) [119] and
         poly(tetrafluoroethylene) [120], and Nafion [121].
            Lin et al. synthesized that PANIs/TiO 2 NCs have been blended via a hydrothermal
         process and by a low-temperature thermal treatment process. It evidenced that the
         PANIS/TiO 2 NCs display higher photocatalytic activity concerning the liquid-phase
         degradation of methyl orange (MO) under both UV and visible light irradiation and
         schematically presented in Fig. 6.4 [122].
            Ameen et al. synthesized poly(1-naphthylamine)/TiO 2 NCs by in situ polymeriza-
         tion process and witnessed an improved photocatalytic performance for the catalytic
         degradation under visible light illumination [123]. Zhang et al. and Wang et al. syn-
         thesized hybrid effect of PANIs and semiconductor composites through chemisorp-
         tion process and in situ oxidative polymerization and found to have improved
         photocatalytic performances under natural light [124]. Gulce et al. fabricated syn-
         thetic effect of PANIs/CdO NCs by chemical oxidative polymerization, and its photo-
         catalytic activity of MO was reported [125].
            Guo et al. synthesized hierarchical 3-D flowerlike TiO 2 /PANIs NCs with enhanced
         photocatalytic activity via a sol-gel method and successfully degraded organic pollut-
         ants under visible light illumination [126].
            Pei et al. fabricated synergetic effect of ZnO/PANIs NCs via chemisorption method
         together with a cold plasma treatment technique for degradation of organic contam-
         inants under visible light illumination [127].
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