Among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we find that SDG7 (clean and affordable energy) and SDG13 (climate action) need to be urgently addressed, also because they are intimately related. Population growth, which has followed an exponential curve for the past two centuries, makes these challenges particularly daunting because growth in energy demand follows the same trend. A variety of renewable energy technologies have been developed to meet the growing need for energy and simultaneously reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Among these, solar energy is considered to be particularly promising because of the relative abundance of sunlight and the progressive reduction in cost. Recent efforts have also focused on developing nanostructured photocatalysts because of their potential for high-performance sustainable energy technologies. Here we review the properties of hybrid one-dimensional/two-dimensional (1D/2D) photocatalysts, which are being widely studied because of several interesting features, including structural (particle/crystallite size, phase composition, specific surface area, surface hydroxyls, and lattice defects) and physical/chemical (chemical stability and optoelectronic, electromagnetic, and photophysical properties) properties. By tuning of the band gap and optimization of the recombination rate of photogenerated charge carriers, these systems can optimize solar energy harvesting beyond the visible spectrum, resulting in an enhanced photocatalytic performance. In particular, we will discuss the following subtopics: classification of the materials' architecture, synthesis techniques, prominent factors that influence the photocatalytic activity, prospects in energy conversion and storage (e.g., H 2 production), bacterial disinfection, pollutant degradation, batteries, and CO 2 conversion into valueadded chemicals. We conclude by describing broad perspectives on future studies of 1D/2D photocatalysts.

No abstract

No abstract

Superhydrophobic porous materials, for instance, sponges, membranes, and meshes, have attracted great attention due to their ability for adsorption of organic solvents, hydrocarbons, and oils while repelling water. In this work, we report an organic-solvent-free, environmentally benign, and cost-effective preparation method of a bifunctional adsorbent using a melamine sponge coated with few-layer hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets (hBNNs) functionalized with laccase (LA). The hBNNs are used as a building block for immobilizing and stabilizing LA for the removal and degradation of anthracene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in crude oil, and to convert them to lighter and less-toxic substances. The physiochemical properties and performance of the sponges for the removal and degradation of anthracene were investigated thoroughly. The highest hydrocarbon degradation of 89% was obtained at an LA concentration of 2.72 mg/mL and pH 7, after 72 h. The degradation increased to 91% after 7 days of functionalized sponge exposure to the medium. Moreover, the functionalized sponges’ reusability studies revealed that the anthracene degradation efficiency was still as high as 54% after the hBNN–polyethylene oxide–LA sponges were repeatedly used 5 times. The strategy proposed for the fabrication of these sponges is facile and easy to scale up, not requiring the use of a complicated process or expensive equipment. These nano-engineered sponges are promising candidates for the separation and degradation of oils and hydrocarbons in oil spill remediation applications.

No abstract