Layered double hydroxides (ZnAl-NO3-LDH) to mixed metal oxides: A promising pathway for sustainable NOx abatement

ZnAl layered double hydroxides (LDHs) were explored for their potential transformation into layered double oxides (LDO) through thermal decomposition. LDO have interesting functional properties in photocatalysis. Here, we tested the photodegradation of nitrogen oxides (NOx). This study aimed to deve...

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Main Authors: Humaira Asghar, Valter Maurino, Muhammad Ahsan Iqbal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-10-01
Series:Next Materials
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949822825005817
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author Humaira Asghar
Valter Maurino
Muhammad Ahsan Iqbal
author_facet Humaira Asghar
Valter Maurino
Muhammad Ahsan Iqbal
author_sort Humaira Asghar
collection DOAJ
description ZnAl layered double hydroxides (LDHs) were explored for their potential transformation into layered double oxides (LDO) through thermal decomposition. LDO have interesting functional properties in photocatalysis. Here, we tested the photodegradation of nitrogen oxides (NOx). This study aimed to develop ZnOZnAl oxide heterojunctions that demonstrate good selectivity with minimal NO₂ release, addressing critical challenges in NOx abatement. ZnAl-NO₃-LDH was synthesized via a coprecipitation method and then calcined at 600 °C for 3 h to transform LDH into layered double oxides (LDOs). The resulting ZnO-based LDOs were characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS), and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The photocatalysts demonstrated a conversion efficiency of 27–29 % for NO photocatalytic conversion, with a notable reduction in NO₂ release (3–4 %) and a high selectivity of up to 91 % under light intensities of 20 and 40 W/m². These results highlight the effectiveness of photocatalysts (LDO) in NOx abatement and their potential of forming LDO-NO₃ on reaction thus act as sustainable nanomaterials. Furthermore, this study employs a novel portable photoreactor for rapid NOx abatement evaluation, utilizing a low-volume, continuously stirred continuous-flow photoreactor. This compact, low-volume setup enables rapid onsite measurements, offering significant time and cost advantages for monitoring NOx and completing photocatalytic activity assessment.
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spelling doaj-art-8468904c73e6440e8ebcfdf49e26f1162025-08-20T03:41:56ZengElsevierNext Materials2949-82282025-10-01910106310.1016/j.nxmate.2025.101063Layered double hydroxides (ZnAl-NO3-LDH) to mixed metal oxides: A promising pathway for sustainable NOx abatementHumaira Asghar0Valter Maurino1Muhammad Ahsan Iqbal2Department of Chemistry, University of Torino, Via Giuria 7, Torino 10125, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry, University of Torino, Via Giuria 7, Torino 10125, ItalyDepartamento de Ingeniería Química y de Materiales, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid 28040, Spain; Corresponding author.ZnAl layered double hydroxides (LDHs) were explored for their potential transformation into layered double oxides (LDO) through thermal decomposition. LDO have interesting functional properties in photocatalysis. Here, we tested the photodegradation of nitrogen oxides (NOx). This study aimed to develop ZnOZnAl oxide heterojunctions that demonstrate good selectivity with minimal NO₂ release, addressing critical challenges in NOx abatement. ZnAl-NO₃-LDH was synthesized via a coprecipitation method and then calcined at 600 °C for 3 h to transform LDH into layered double oxides (LDOs). The resulting ZnO-based LDOs were characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS), and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The photocatalysts demonstrated a conversion efficiency of 27–29 % for NO photocatalytic conversion, with a notable reduction in NO₂ release (3–4 %) and a high selectivity of up to 91 % under light intensities of 20 and 40 W/m². These results highlight the effectiveness of photocatalysts (LDO) in NOx abatement and their potential of forming LDO-NO₃ on reaction thus act as sustainable nanomaterials. Furthermore, this study employs a novel portable photoreactor for rapid NOx abatement evaluation, utilizing a low-volume, continuously stirred continuous-flow photoreactor. This compact, low-volume setup enables rapid onsite measurements, offering significant time and cost advantages for monitoring NOx and completing photocatalytic activity assessment.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949822825005817LDONOx abatementSelectivityPhotocatalystNitrogen oxides
spellingShingle Humaira Asghar
Valter Maurino
Muhammad Ahsan Iqbal
Layered double hydroxides (ZnAl-NO3-LDH) to mixed metal oxides: A promising pathway for sustainable NOx abatement
Next Materials
LDO
NOx abatement
Selectivity
Photocatalyst
Nitrogen oxides
title Layered double hydroxides (ZnAl-NO3-LDH) to mixed metal oxides: A promising pathway for sustainable NOx abatement
title_full Layered double hydroxides (ZnAl-NO3-LDH) to mixed metal oxides: A promising pathway for sustainable NOx abatement
title_fullStr Layered double hydroxides (ZnAl-NO3-LDH) to mixed metal oxides: A promising pathway for sustainable NOx abatement
title_full_unstemmed Layered double hydroxides (ZnAl-NO3-LDH) to mixed metal oxides: A promising pathway for sustainable NOx abatement
title_short Layered double hydroxides (ZnAl-NO3-LDH) to mixed metal oxides: A promising pathway for sustainable NOx abatement
title_sort layered double hydroxides znal no3 ldh to mixed metal oxides a promising pathway for sustainable nox abatement
topic LDO
NOx abatement
Selectivity
Photocatalyst
Nitrogen oxides
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949822825005817
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AT valtermaurino layereddoublehydroxidesznalno3ldhtomixedmetaloxidesapromisingpathwayforsustainablenoxabatement
AT muhammadahsaniqbal layereddoublehydroxidesznalno3ldhtomixedmetaloxidesapromisingpathwayforsustainablenoxabatement