The future of graphene oxide-based nanomaterials and their potential environmental applications: a contemporary view

Abstract

Environmental safety is vital to life on Earth. Environment and life are interconnected like two sides of a coin. Pollution is a serious challenge in both developing and developed nations. Rapid rise in human civilization, together with metrological works and industrialization, affects the environment. Due to the excessive release of heavy metal ions, air, water, and soil-borne diseases as corona, cholera, cardiovascular issues, chronic conditions, and cancer increase. Different research organizations use several ways to combat environmental problems. Nanotechnology-based solutions are cost-effective and efficient. Nanomaterials’ multifaceted applications revolutionize science. Its particle-to-size ratio gives a wide surface area with several reactive sites. Carbon-based nanomaterials like graphene, fullerene, carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide, carbon-based quantum dots, etc., have received a lot of attention due to their application to combat environmental issues. Through this chapter, we want to draw researchers’ and academics’ attention to recent trends and applications of graphene oxide based photocatalysts in degradation of organic dye pollutants, biomedical significance, challenges, and future perspectives which will improve the development and application of more multidimensional nanomaterials to human health and for the development of biodiagnostics.