Harvesting surface (interfacial) energy for tribocatalytic degradation of hazardous dye pollutants using nanostructured materials: A review

Introduction Tribocatalysis, an emerging cutting‐edge technique that uses frictional mechanical energy to activate the catalytic operation of a reaction or material including nanomaterials has garnered the interest of the research community in recent times. Aim This study aimed to critically review original research works directed toward tribocatalytic degradation of various hazardous dye pollutants. Notably, in this review, various nanomaterials and their composites with outstanding tailored degradation profiles are explored for their tribocatalytic degradation efficiency for various dye pollutants. In addition, the effect of various operating factors that are of importance to engineers, industries, and investors for optimization purposes was pragmatically discussed. Also, the effect of electron trapping and radical scavengers alongside the mechanism of tribocatalytic degradation was empirically analyzed. Results From this work, it was found that the maximum tribocatalytic degradation efficiency was >80% in most cases at an optimum temperature of 20–40°C, time taken of 0.5‐48 hours, and stirring speed of 500‐1000rmp. It was discovered that magnetic stirring enhances the production of •OH, O2•, and h+ by the nanomaterials that are mechanistically responsible for the degradation of the dye pollutants. Also, it was revealed that expended tribocatalyst can be eluted mostly using H2O and can be reused up to 3–10 times while still sustaining degradation efficiency of >80% in most cases and this suggests the industrial scalability and eco‐friendliness potential of this approach. Conclusion In the end, challenges and research gaps that can pave the way for method improvement and also serve as future research hotspots for researchers were presented. Tribocatalytic degradation of dye pollutants was reviewed as a game changer with a degradation efficiency of >80% for most dyes and high reusability (3–10 cycles with >80% efficiency) potential. The mechanism of tribocatalytic degradation of dye and electron trapping was elucidated, and it was found that magnetic stirring boosts the production of ˙OH and O2˙ radicals for dye degradation.