Indian researchers Nikhil Jana and Susanta Bhunia managed to use a graphene composite material to harness visible light and successfully degrade three different endocrine disruptor pollutants (phenol, BPA and atrazine). Endocrine disruptors are a class of pollutants that are commonplace in many household and industrial products, despite being known to mimic or block hormones in animals and humans, potentially causing various reproductive and health problems.
The researchers reached this achievement by using an existing graphene composite that uses visible light to degrade dyes, enhancing it by loading it with silver nanoparticles that act as an antenna for visible light.
This approach can prove to be unique and more efficient than others because it utilizes visible light, which comprises 52% of sunlight, instead of other approaches that attempt to use ultraviolet light that is a mere 6% of sunlight.