Emerging nanomaterials in the detection and degradation of air pollutants

Air pollution implies significant threats for the human health and the surrounding environment. In recent years, a great deal of research has been carried out on the detection and removal of air pollutants through the development of novel multifunctional nanomaterials. In this paper, such emerging nanomaterials (e.g. metal oxide, metal–organic framework, graphene, MXenes, quantum dots, plasmonic, etc. based nanostructures) with high stability, sensitivity down to parts-per-billion level and excellent removal efficiency for air pollutants have been discussed. The focus is on specific strategies and recent highlights of the development of emerging nanomaterials for environmental and health monitoring. Furthermore, the challenges and future prospects are discussed.