Micro-nanopores Fabricated by High-Energy Electron Beam Irradiation: Suitable Structure for Controlling Pesticide Loss

Pesticide sprayed onto crop leaves tends to be washed off by rainwater and discharge into the enviornment through leaching and runoff, resulting in severe pollution to both soil and water. Here, to control pesticides loss, we developed a loss-control pesticide (LCP) by adding modified natural nanoclay (diatomite) through high-energy electron beam (HEEB) to traditional pesticide. After HEEB treatement, the originally clogged pores in diatomite opened, resulting in plenty of micro-nanopores in diatomite, which are beneficial for the pesticide molecules to access and be adsorbed. This pesticide-diatomite complex tended to be retained by the rought surface of crop leaves, displaying a high adhesion performance onto the leaves, so that the pesticide loss reduced, sufficient pesticide for crops was supplied, and the pollution risk of the pesticide could be substantially lowered.