Nanomaterials ROS: a comprehensive review for environmental applications

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are crucial for environmental remediation, and nanomaterials have proven to be extremely effective catalysts for the utilization of ROS to degrade pollutants. This review presents a critical analysis of advanced ROS-generating nanomaterials such as metal oxides, two-dimensional (2D) materials, carbon-based materials, perovskites, and hybrid composites, along with various external triggers for ROS generation. There is a special emphasis on heterojunctions and upconversion systems, which boost charge transfer, band alignment, and interfacial interactions to maximize ROS generation. In contrast to other earlier research that emphasizes the use of particular material categories or biomedical purposes, this review gives special prominence to the environmental applications of nanomaterials, specifically in wastewater treatment. The novelty of this research is in the detailed discussion of hybrid materials, their mechanisms for ROS generation, and the convergence of defect engineering, plasmonic effects, heterostructures, and upconversion strategies toward improved photocatalytic performance. In addition, it critically assesses major challenges including material stability, scalability, environmental compatibility, and the demand for green synthesis methods. Research avenues for the future include devising standardized quantification protocols of ROS, computation-assisted design of materials, and large-scale fabrication methods for translating nanotechnology to real-world application. By addressing these research gaps, this review offers valuable insights into the advancement of next-generation ROS-based nanotechnologies, paving the way for their sustainable and effective implementation in environmental remediation.