Solar water purification with photocatalytic nanocomposite filter based on TiO2 nanowires and carbon nanotubes

Abstract Water contamination due to environmental conditions and poor waste management in certain areas of the world represents a serious problem accessing clean safe drinking water. This is especially critical electricity-poor regions, where advanced water purification methods are absent. Here, we demonstrate that titanium dioxide nanowires (TiO 2 NWs)-based photocatalytic filters assisted only with sunlight can efficiently decontaminate Moreover, interweaving TiO NWs carbon nanotubes (CNTs) leads formation NWs/CNTs composite material offers an additional decontamination channel, pasteurization visible part solar emission spectrum. Our results this nanoporous filter successfully intercept various types microbial pathogens, including bacteria large viruses. In addition, photo-catalytically generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) on surface NWs/CNTs-based under exposure contribute efficient removal broad range organic compounds infective microbes. A pilot study also yielded encouraging reducing traces drugs pesticides