An Introductory Review on Advanced Multifunctional Materials

Abstract

This review summarizes applications of some of the advanced materials. It included the synthesis of several nanoparticles such as metal oxide nanoparticles (e.g., Fe3O4, ZnO, ZrOSO4, MoO3-x, CuO, AgFeO2, Co3O4, CeO2, SiO2, and CuFeO2); metal hydroxide nanosheets (e.g., Zn5(OH)8(NO3)2·2H2O, Zn(OH)(NO3)·H2O, and Zn5(OH)8(NO3)2); metallic nanoparticles (Ag, Au, Pd, and Pt); carbon-based nanomaterials (graphene, graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), and carbon dots (CDs)); biopolymers (cellulose, nanocellulose, TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TOCNFs), alginate, and chitosan); organic polymers (e.g. covalent-organic frameworks (COFs)); and hybrid materials (e.g. metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)). These materials were applied in several fields such as environmental-based technologies (e.g., water remediation, air purification, gas storage), energy (production of hydrogen, dimethyl ether, solar cells, and supercapacitors), and biomedical sectors (sensing, biosensing, cancer therapy, and drug delivery). They can be used as efficient adsorbents and catalysts to remove emerging contaminants such as metals, dyes, drugs, antibiotics, pesticides, and oils in water via adsorption. They can be also used as catalysts for catalytic degradation, reduction, and oxidation of organic pollutants. They can be used as filters for air purification by capture greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). They can be used for hydrogen production via water splitting, alcohol oxidation, and hydrolysis of NaBH4. Biomedical applications such as antibacterial, drug delivery, and biosensing were also reviewed.