Dendritic mesoporous nanoparticles for the detection, adsorption, and degradation of hazardous substances in the environment: State-of-the-art and future prospects

Equipped with hierarchical pores and three-dimensional (3D) center-radial channels, dendritic mesoporous nanoparticles (DMNs) make their pore volumes extremely large, specific surface areas super-high, internal spaces especially accessible, and so on. Other entities (like organic moieties or nanoparticles) can be modified onto the interfaces or skeletons of DMNs, accomplishing their functionalization for desirable applications. This comprehensive review emphasizes on the design and construction of DMNs-based systems which serve as sensors, adsorbents and catalysts for the detection, adsorption, and degradation of hazardous substances, mainly including the construction procedures of brand-new DMNs-based materials and the involved hazardous substances (like industrial chemicals, chemical dyes, heavy metal ions, medicines, pesticides, and harmful gases). The sensitive, adsorptive, or catalytic performances of various DMNs have been compared; correspondingly, the reaction mechanisms have been revealed strictly. It is honestly anticipated that the profound discussion could offer scientists certain enlightenment to design novel DMNs-based systems towards the detection, adsorption, and degradation of hazardous substances, respectively or comprehensively.