Superhydrophilicity and photocatalysis are of great importance for self-cleaning applications. We report the synthesis of ZnO and ZnO loaded graphene nanostructures at different pH values with exposed polar facets by a simple hydrothermal method. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide is used as surfactant and the synthesis is carried out without the aid of high temperature and demonstrated to have a superior photocatalytic activity. We observed a reduction in band gap for graphene loaded ZnO samples. Further, a one-step spin coating method is used for the preparation of optically transparent and photoinduced superhydrophilic ZnO hybrid films. We investigated the effect of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide capping agent on crystal growth and morphology of as synthesised samples. An effective improvement in photocatalytic activity of the nanohybrid (~100%) compared to pure ZnO (85%) is observed within 150 min. This can be attributed to the synergetic interaction of the components of the hybrid. Also, the hybrid samples coated on the glass substrate exhibits good transparency and superhydrophilicity upon UV irradiation. An unexpected transmittance as high as 84%–97% throughout most of the visible light region of the spectrum of the hybrid samples along with good photocatalytic efficiency and photoinduced superhydrophilicity makes the samples more suitable for self-cleaning applications.

A two-step solvothermal synthesis was adopted to prepare AgXSe₂-TiO₂ (X = In, Bi) composites. DFT study of the pristine parent samples showed the formation of the hexagonal phase of AgBiSe₂, and tetragonal phase of AgInSe₂ and TiO₂, which corroborated the experimentally synthesised structures. Both the AgBiSe₂-TiO₂ and AgInSe₂-TiO₂ composites displayed enhanced visible light absorption and reduced band gap in the UV-DRS patterns. The XPS results exhibited a shift in binding energy values and the TEM results showed the formation of spherical nanoparticles of both AgBiSe₂ and AgInSe₂. The PL signals displayed delayed recombination of the photogenerated excitons. The as synthesised materials were studied for their photocatalytic efficiency, by hydrogen generation, degradation of doxycycline, and antimicrobial disinfection (E. coli and S. aureus). The composite samples illustrated more than 95% degradation results within 180 min and showed 5 log reductions of bacterial strains within 30 min of light irradiation. The hydrogen production outcomes were significantly improved as the AgBiSe₂ and AgInSe₂ based composites illustrated 180-fold and 250-fold enhanced output compared to their parent samples. The enhanced photocatalytic efficiency displayed is attributed to the delayed charge recombination of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs in the AgXSe₂-TiO₂ interface. Formation of a p-n nano heterojunction for AgBiSe₂-TiO₂ and type II heterojunction for AgInSe₂-TiO₂ composite are explained.

The investigations on anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture and conversion play a vital role in eradicating global warming and the energy crisis. In this context, defect-engineered two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials have received much attention in recent years. Herein, the significance of 2D nanomaterials such as graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, hexagonal boron nitride, MXenes, graphitic carbon nitride, metal/covalent organic frameworks, nanoclays, borophenes, graphynes and green phosphorenes for CO₂ capture and conversion has been emphasized. Further, the intrinsic mechanism of CO₂ adsorption and conversion is discussed in detail. Theoretical and experimental studies among 2D materials highlight that N-doped porous adsorbents based on graphene and MXenes are more suitable for CO₂ adsorption applications. Also, more emphasis is given to outlining and discussing the role of various 2D nanomaterials and their hybrids as photocatalysts, electrocatalysts, photoelectrocatalysts, and thermocatalysts to transform CO₂ into valuable products. Although immense efforts are deployed in developing 2D catalysts for the conversion of CO₂, challenges such as agglomeration, poor yield, difficulties in analysing the 2D structures for catalytic factors, poor knowledge and in-depth understanding of the reaction mechanisms, high cost, etc. limit their large scale production and commercialization. More detailed theoretical and experimental investigations are required to develop 2D nanostructures with optimum properties for large-scale capture and conversion of CO₂.