Photocatalytic Applications of Nickel Oxide Nanoparticles

Nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs) have emerged as versatile photocatalysts owing to their p-type semiconducting nature, tunable band gap and robust chemical stability. In aqueous and gaseous environments, NiO NPs absorb photons to generate electron–hole pairs that initiate redox reactions, producing reactive oxygen species capable of degrading organic pollutants and dyes. Tailoring particle size, morphology and surface porosity enhances light absorption and charge separation. Strategies such as elemental doping, construction of heterojunctions with n-type oxides, and hierarchical structuring further extend activity into the visible spectrum, improve recyclability and suppress recombination. These advances underpin applications in wastewater treatment, air purification and solar‐driven fuel generation. The global significance of NiO-based photocatalysis lies in its potential for sustainable remediation of industrial effluents, reduction of waterborne toxins and contribution to renewable‐energy conversion technologies.

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Photocatalytic Applications of Nickel Oxide Nanoparticles publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in photocatalytic applications of nickel oxide nanoparticles across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Photocatalysis: Process by which a semiconductor material absorbs light and generates reactive species to drive chemical transformations.

Band gap: Energy difference between valence and conduction bands in a semiconductor, dictating the wavelength of light that can be absorbed.

Heterojunction: Interface between two semiconductors of differing conduction or valence characteristics, enhancing charge separation.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Highly reactive molecules (e.g. hydroxyl radicals and superoxide) that mediate oxidative degradation of pollutants.

Mesoporous structure: Material architecture characterised by pore sizes of 2–50 nm, offering high surface area for catalytic interaction.

References

1. Synthesis and Characterizations of Fe-Doped NiO Nanoparticles and Their Potential Photocatalytic Dye Degradation Activities. Sustainability (2023).
2. High-performance photocatalytic degradation of NiO nanoparticles embedded on α-Fe2O3 nanoporous layers under visible light irradiation. Journal of Materials Research and Technology (2022).
3. Facile synthesis of mesoporous nano Ni/NiO and its synergistic role as super adsorbent and photocatalyst under sunlight irradiation. Environmental Science and Pollution Research (2022).