es9b01453_si_001.pdf (2.13 MB)
Next-Generation Multifunctional Carbon–Metal Nanohybrids for Energy and Environmental Applications
journal contribution
posted on 2019-06-14, 00:00 authored by Dengjun Wang, Navid B. Saleh, Wenjie Sun, Chang Min Park, Chongyang Shen, Nirupam Aich, Willie J. G. M. Peijnenburg, Wei Zhang, Yan Jin, Chunming SuNanotechnology has unprecedentedly
revolutionized human societies
over the past decades and will continue to advance our broad societal
goals in the coming decades. The research, development, and particularly
the application of engineered nanomaterials have shifted the focus
from “less efficient” single-component nanomaterials
toward “superior-performance”, next-generation multifunctional
nanohybrids. Carbon nanomaterials (e.g., carbon nanotubes, graphene
family nanomaterials, carbon dots, and graphitic carbon nitride) and
metal/metal oxide nanoparticles (e.g., Ag, Au, CdS, Cu2O, MoS2, TiO2, and ZnO) combinations are the
most commonly pursued nanohybrids (carbon–metal nanohybrids;
CMNHs), which exhibit appealing properties and promising multifunctionalities
for addressing multiple complex challenges faced by humanity at the
critical energy–water–environment (EWE) nexus. In this
frontier review, we first highlight the altered and newly emerging
properties (e.g., electronic and optical attributes, particle size,
shape, morphology, crystallinity, dimensionality, carbon/metal ratio,
and hybridization mode) of CMNHs that are distinct from those of their
parent component materials. We then illustrate how these important
newly emerging properties and functions of CMNHs direct their performances
at the EWE nexus including energy harvesting (e.g., H2O
splitting and CO2 conversion), water treatment (e.g., contaminant
removal and membrane technology), and environmental sensing and in
situ nanoremediation. This review concludes with identifications of
critical knowledge gaps and future research directions for maximizing
the benefits of next-generation multifunctional CMNHs at the EWE nexus
and beyond.