Au-based core-shell nanoparticles for wastewater treatment and hydrogen production: An insight

Core-shell nanoparticles (CSNPs) represent a fascinating category of nanostructured materials that have recently attracted considerable interest owing to their remarkable properties and the extensive array of applications across various domains, such as catalysis, biology, materials chemistry, and sensor technology. Gold (Au)-based CSNPs have garnered considerable attention from the scientific community due to their unique chemical, electrical, physical, and optical properties. The potential applications of these nanoparticles extend to the biomedical sector, particularly in cancer treatment, pharmaceutical delivery, imaging techniques for oncology, Hydrogen generation and water purification processes. The size and morphology of Au-based core-shell nanoparticles comprehensively decides their photocatalytic activity in water purification and Hydrogen Generation. Moreover, presence of Au imparts the LSPR (Local Surface Plasmon Resonance) effect which is responsible for improve efficacy. The Au-based CSNPs showed the dye degradation efficacy around 98 % in 12 min for Au-Pd CSNPs. Further, Fe₃O₄/PDA/Au CSNPs showed 98.16 % efficiency in 360 min with 0.0812 min-1against tetracycline (TC). Thus, this review gives a thorough look at a topic, starting with how gold-based core-shell nanoparticles are made and ending with how they can be used to break down dyes, find and remove heavy metals, break down antibiotics, and to produce hydrogen.