Efficient photocatalytic inactivation of E. coli by Mn-CdS/ZnCuInSe/CuInS2 quantum dots-sensitized TiO2 nanowires

Progress of disinfection catalysts in advanced oxidation processes, mechanisms and synergistic antibiotic degradation

Human diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms make people pay more attention to disinfection. Meanwhile, antibiotics can cause microbial resistance and increase the difficulty of disease treatment, resulting in risk of triggering a vicious circle. Advanced oxidation process (AOPs) has been widely studied in the field of synergistic treatment of the two contaminates. This paper reviews the application of catalytic materials and their modification strategies in the context of AOPs for disinfection and antibiotic degradation. It also delves into the mechanisms of disinfection such as the pathways for microbial inactivation and the related influencing factors, which are essential for understanding the pivotal role of catalytic materials in disinfection principles by AOPs. More importantly, the exploratory research on the combined use of AOPs for disinfection and antibiotic degradation is discussed, and the potential and prospects in this field is highlighted. Finally, the limitations and challenges associated with the application of AOPs in disinfection and antibiotic degradation are summarized. It aims to provide a starting point for future research efforts to facilitate the widespread use of advanced oxidation processes in the field of public health.

Synthesis and hybridization of CuInS2 nanocrystals for emerging applications

Copper indium sulfide (CuInS2) is a ternary A(I)B(III)X(VI)2-type semiconductor featuring a direct bandgap with a high absorption coefficient. In attempts to explore their practical applications, nanoscale CuInS2 has been synthesized with crystal sizes down to the quantum confinement regime. The merits of CuInS2 nanocrystals (NCs) include wide emission tunability, a large Stokes shift, long decay time, and eco-friendliness, making them promising candidates in photoelectronics and photovoltaics. Over the past two decades, advances in wet-chemistry synthesis have achieved rational control over cation-anion reactivity during the preparation of colloidal CuInS2 NCs and post-synthesis cation exchange. The precise nano-synthesis coupled with a series of hybridization strategies has given birth to a library of CuInS2 NCs with highly customizable photophysical properties. This review article focuses on the recent development of CuInS2 NCs enabled by advanced synthetic and hybridization techniques. We show that the state-of-the-art CuInS2 NCs play significant roles in optoelectronic and biomedical applications.

Copper indium sulfide quantum dots in photocatalysis

Since the advent of photocatalytic technology, scientists have been searching for semiconductor materials with high efficiency in solar energy utilization and conversion to chemical energy. Recently, the development of quantum dot (QD) photocatalysts has attracted much attention because of their unique characteristics: small size, quantum effects, strong surface activity, and wide photoresponse range. Among ternary chalcogenide semiconductors, CuInS₂ QDs are increasingly examined in the field of photocatalysis due to their high absorption coefficients, good matching of the absorption range with sunlight spectrum, long lifetimes of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and environmental sustainability. In this review paper, the structural and electronic properties, synthesis methods and various photocatalytic applications of CuInS₂ QDs are systematically expounded. The current research status on the photocatalytic properties of materials based on CuInS₂ QD is discussed combined with the existing modification approaches for the enhancement of their performances. Future challenges and new development opportunities of CuInS₂ QDs in the field of photocatalysis are then prospected.

Advances in Fluorescent Sensing Carbon Dots: An Account of Food Analysis

Illuminating the use of nanomaterials, carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have transfigured the food safety arena because of their bright luminescence, optical properties, low toxicity, and enhanced biocompatibility. Therefore, fluorescent resonance energy transfer, photoinduced electron transfer, and an internal filtering effect mechanism allow precise detection of food additives, heavy metal ions, pathogenic bacteria, veterinary drug residues, and food nutrients. In this review, we describe the primal mechanism of CQD-based fluorescence sensors for food safety inspection. This is an abridged description of the nanodesign and future perspectives of more advanced CQD-based sensors for food safety analysis.