Bioinspired photocatalyst assemblies for environmental remediation

Photocatalytic methods for environmental pollution abatement have been an active field of research endeavor for over three decades. However, the effectiveness of this approach is enhanced several-fold when the inorganic semiconductor active material is combined with other complementary components. In this regard, materials design paradigms can take a leaf out of Nature's playbook and enhance the scope further. This review article discusses three such types of nanocomposite assemblies based on the combination of the semiconductor (mostly transition metal oxides) with (a) clays, (b) carbon, and (c) metals. Other miscellaneous nanocomposites are also reviewed and areas needing further work are identified. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.