Smart nanomaterials with synergistic effects by utilizing heterojunctions on different dimensional scales

A commendable attempt has been made to employ the synergistic blend of nanomaterials with smart semiconductors for environmental applications and in the removal of organic contaminants in water because of the burden the world's population expansion has placed on the demand for clean water. The creation of diverse photoanodes for the removal of organic contaminants from water has been aided by the synergy of nanomaterials and heterojunctions made from smart semiconductors. Due to their promising applications in domains such as electronics, energy storage, and environmental remediation, nanomaterials with customized characteristics and synergistic effects have received a lot of interest in recent years. This review discusses how heterojunctions are being used in novel ways to generate smart nanomaterials at various dimensional scales. We discussed specifically the use of bismuth, copper oxide, tungsten, and titanium oxide semiconductors in the development of these advanced materials. Researchers have exploited heterojunctions to harness the unique properties of each material and combine them to improve performance and develop multifunctional nanomaterials. We address the synthesis, procedures, fundamental concepts, and prospective applications of these smart nanomaterials, emphasizing their amazing features and the promising future possibilities for this intriguing field of research. This chapter provides an overview of the commendable results documented in the application of heterojunction-nanomaterials-assisted photoanodes for wastewater treatment and sensor development. Our goal is to share the philosophy behind the use of semiconductors and smart nanomaterials in environmental applications.