Metal-semiconductor core-shell nanostructured photocatalysts for environmental applications and their recycling process

The usage of metal-semiconductor core-shell nanostructured photocatalysts in photocatalytic oxidation is an eye-catching approach as the augmentation of the degradation by means of more photon harvesting by nanocatalysts and thus the generation of much hydroxyl radical, a prevailing oxidative agent that can oxidize entirely the organic pollutant present in the aqueous wastewater. Modifying nanostructures by adding metal centers inside the semiconductor nanoscopic shells in a core-shell photocatalyst into the photocatalytic oxidation system can further enhances the degradation process as this promotes more photon harvesting efficacies by refining the charge carrier separation at the metal-metal oxide semiconductor-interfaces and improving the light absorption properties and thereby boosting hydroxyl radical generation into the system. The center attention of this chapter is to review most recent published work in the field of metal-semiconductor core-shell nanoparticles mediated photocatalytic oxidation of organic dyes and harmful microorganisms present in wastewater effluent and their recycling process and possibility of reuse. Then, recycling and reuse of photocatalysts can be anticipated as a worthy practice for sustainable wastewater treatment which has also been discussed here with most recent examples.