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V. Maurino kindly acknowledges funding by Regione Piemonte, Italy, through the project ECOBRAKE "Studio e Sviluppo di materiali frenanti ecologici e a bassa emissione di particolato per applicazioni automotive"-L.R. 34/2004-D.D. n degrees 409 del 02/11/2021. D. Hermosilla is grateful to Grant PID2020-114918RB-I00 (Project PHOTOPREBIO) funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033. MA Iqbal is grateful for the support of the European project UNA4CAREER (Marie Sk & lstrok;odowska Curie grant No 847635).

Analysis of institutional authors

Hermosilla, DaphneAuthorDe Los Rios, ChristianAuthorGasco, AntonioAuthor

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February 9, 2025
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From Anatase TiO2 Nano-Cuboids to Nano-Bipyramids: Influence of Particle Shape on the TiO2 Photocatalytic Degradation of Emerging Contaminants in Contrasted Water Matrices

Publicated to:Molecules. 30 (2): 424- - 2025-01-01 30(2), DOI: 10.3390/molecules30020424

Authors: Asghar, Humaira; Hermosilla, Daphne; Pellegrino, Francesco; Muelas-Ramos, Virginia; de los Rios, Christian; Gasco, Antonio; Maurino, Valter; Iqbal, Muhammad Ahsan

Affiliations

Univ Complutense Madrid, Fac Ciencias Quim, Dept Ingn Quim & Mat, Madrid, Spain - Author
Univ Politecn Madrid, Escuela Tecn Super Ingn Montes Forestal & Medio Na, Dept Forest & Environm Engn & Management, G Aqua Res Grp, C Jose Antonio Novais 10, Madrid 28040, Spain - Author
Univ Torino, Dept Chem, Via Giuria 7, I-10125 Turin, Italy - Author
Univ Torino, UNITO ITT Joint Lab, Via Giuria 7, I-10125 Turin, Italy - Author
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Abstract

Water pollution, resulting from industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, and pharmaceutical residues, poses serious threats to ecosystems and human health, highlighting the need for innovative approaches to effective remediation, particularly for non-biodegradable emerging pollutants. This research work explores the influence of shape-controlled nanocrystalline titanium dioxide (TiO2 NC), synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method, on the photodegradation efficiency of three different classes of emerging environmental pollutants: phenol, pesticides (methomyl), and drugs (sodium diclofenac). Experiments were conducted to assess the influence of the water matrix on treatment efficiency by using ultrapure water and stormwater (basic) collected from an urban drainage system as matrices. The size and shape of the nano-cuboids were accurately controlled during synthesis to assess their impact on photoactivity and selectivity. Regarding total organic carbon removal using TiO2 nano-cuboids in basic environments, the results were particularly remarkable. TiO2 nano-cuboids and truncated bipyramids synthesized in the 200-250 degrees C temperature range showed an enhanced photocatalytic efficiency when compared to alternative formulations. Diclofenac, methomyl, and phenol were fully mineralized from ultrapure water and basic stormwater. The TiO2 nano-cuboids/nano-bipyramids demonstrated better selectivity and photoactivity in comparison to irregular TiO2 nanoparticles. The differences in photoactivity and selectivity are explained in terms of charge carrier separation and trapping on the different crystal facets. Their performance demonstrates their potential as sustainable materials for the photodegradation of emerging pollutants in various water matrices.

Keywords

DiclofenacDyesHydrothermal synthesisLightMechanismsMethomylMorphologNano-cuboidsNanocuboidsNanoparticlesNanotubesPhotocatalysisPhotodegradationShape-controlled tio2Shape-controlled tio<sub>2</sub>StormwateStormwaterTitanium-dioxide

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Molecules due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency Scopus (SJR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2025, it was in position , thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Pharmaceutical Science.

Independientemente del impacto esperado determinado por el canal de difusión, es importante destacar el impacto real observado de la propia aportación.

Según las diferentes agencias de indexación, el número de citas acumuladas por esta publicación hasta la fecha 2025-10-31:

  • WoS: 1

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-10-31:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 9 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

    It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

    • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.

    Leadership analysis of institutional authors

    This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Italy.