Carbon-Based Nanomaterials for Environmental Applications (Engineering Materials)

This book delves into the incredible potential of carbon-based nanomaterials to solve critical ecological problems. Over the last few decades, substantial research has been conducted on the design and development of advanced nanomaterials for efficient energy storage, wastewater treatment, and antibacterial activities. Carbon-based materials have drawn increasing attention owing to their intriguing physicochemical properties and broad range of promising applications. Learn how these innovative materials are transforming our planet for improvements in areas as diverse as pollution management, purging water, and renewable energy.

In this book, the authors briefly introduce the classification of carbon-based materials followed by describing in detail the various synthetic methods classified in two categories, i.e., bottom-up methods and top-down methods. After introducing the synthesis, environmental applications including water purification, air purification, and energy storage and antibacterial activity are explained. Finally, the challenges and opportunities in this promising research area are also proposed.

In the current book, carbon-based nanomaterials are addressed in aim for sufficient energy production, wastewater treatment, and as an antibacterial agent. In Chapters 1 and 2, the authors overview the introduction and classifications of carbon-based nanomaterials with its fabrication process. In the next section, the authors review the water purification applications and improvement in the dye degradation activity of carbon-based materials including doping, increasing surface area, and many others. Chapter 4 covers the air purification and energy applications of carbon-based materials along with their experimental and theoretical studies. Moreover, the next chapter explores carbon-based materials for antibacterial activity.

This book is specially designed for research purposes and helps the beginners, post-graduate students, and experienced researchers who are working on carbon-based materials and their applications. The book sheds critical light on the ways in which these materials might help make the world a better, more sustainable place.

Dr. Muhammad Ikram obtained his master's degree (M. Phil., Physics) from BZU Multan, Pakistan, in 2010. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in Physics from the Department of Physics, Government College University (GCU) Lahore, through the Pak-US joint project between the Department of Physics, GCU Lahore, Pakistan, and the University of Delaware, USA, in 2015. He served as the deputy director of Manuscript Science at Punjab Textbook Board (Pakistan). Later on (2017–to date), Ikram joined the Department of Physics, GC University Lahore, as an assistant professor of Physics and the principal of Solar Cell Applications Lab. Ikram received the Seal of Excellence Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions Individual Fellowship in 2017 and 2020. In 2021, Ikram was included in the 2 % top scientists from Pakistan announced by Stanford University. His research interest involves the synthesis and characterization of inorganic semiconductor nanomaterials, 2D materials for water treatment optoelectronic, and electrocatalytic applications.

Dr. Ali Haider obtained his master's degree (M. Phil., Clinical Medicine) from University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Pakistan, in 2015. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in Clinical Medicine from the Department of Veterinary Medicine (UVAS), Lahore, in 2021. He served as the dairy farm manager at reputed commercial dairies of Punjab, (Pakistan). Later on (Jan, 2022–to date), Ali joined the Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture Multan (MNS-UAM), as an assistant professor of Clinical Medicine. His research interest involves the Green synthesis and characterization of inorganic semiconductor nanomaterials, polymeric nanostructures, 2D materials for their catalytic, and antiparasitic and antibacterial evaluation against multiple drug-resistant (MDR) pathogens.

Sawaira Moeen obtained her B.S. (Physics) degree from the Government College University Lahore (Punjab, Pakistan) in 2023. Sawaira did her B.S. research work at GCU Lahore (Punjab, Pakistan) in the Solar Cell Applications Lab. She then worked as a research associate in the same laboratory. Her research interests include synthesis of nanomaterials, catalytic and photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes.

Dr. Junaid Haider received his Master’s degree in Food Science and Technology from Jiangnan University Wuxi, China in 2016. He received his Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (TIB-CAS) in 2022. Currently, he is a Postdoc Fellow at TIB-CAS. His research interests are focused on protein engineering, enzymatic depolymerization of recalcitrant polysaccharides, and the development of polysaccharide-based nanocomposites for dye degradation and antibacterial activity.