Recent Progress of Carbon Dots for Air Pollutants Detection and Photocatalytic Removal: Synthesis, Modifications, and Applications

Rapid industrialization has inevitably led to serious air pollution problems, thus it is urgent to develop detection and treatment technologies for qualitative and quantitative analysis and efficient removal of harmful pollutants. Notably, the employment of functional nanomaterials, in sensing and photocatalytic technologies, is promising to achieve efficient in situ detection and removal of gaseous pollutants. Among them, carbon dots (CDs) have shown significant potential due to their superior properties, such as controllable structures, easy surface modification, adjustable energy band, and excellent electron-transfer capacities. Moreover, their environmentally friendly preparation and efficient capture of solar energy provide a green option for sustainably addressing environmental problems. Here, recent advances in the rational design of CDs-based sensors and photocatalysts are highlighted. An overview of their applications in air pollutants detection and photocatalytic removal is presented, especially the diverse sensing and photocatalytic mechanisms of CDs are discussed. Finally, the challenges and perspectives are also provided, emphasizing the importance of synthetic mechanism investigation and rational design of structures.

Automated summary

Rapid industrialization has caused serious air pollution problems, highlighting the need for the development of detection and treatment technologies for efficient removal of harmful pollutants. Functional nanomaterials, specifically carbon dots (CDs), show great potential in sensing and photocatalytic technologies. CDs offer superior properties such as controllable structures, easy surface modification, adjustable energy band, and excellent electron-transfer capacities, making them an environmentally friendly and sustainable option for addressing environmental issues. This article highlights recent advances in CDs-based sensors and photocatalysts, discussing their applications in air pollutants detection and photocatalytic removal, as well as the diverse sensing and photocatalytic mechanisms of CDs. It emphasizes the importance of investigating synthetic mechanisms and designing structures.