Group IV Nanodots/Composites: Synthesis for Optical Sensing and Photocatalysis of Water Pollutants

Water pollution increasingly threatens public health and ecosystems, driving urgent demand for effective pollutant detection and removal methods. Although a series of methods have been reported, they are often applied solely for either detection or removal and face challenges such as high cost and secondary pollution. Group IV nanodots constructed with fourth main group elements, such as carbon and silicon, are not only low‐toxic but also exhibit highly tunable optical properties and photocatalytic activity. Their functionalities can be precisely optimized through size control, heteroatom doping, and surface modification. Furthermore, engineering them into composite materials by integration with other components can leverage synergistic effects to further enhance specific optical sensing capabilities, photocatalytic removal efficiency, and reusability. Such materials, which integrate both detection and catalytic functions, offer the potential for simultaneous photocatalytic degradation and in situ monitoring. They are also economical and environmentally benign, aligning with the critical demands of green chemistry and sustainable development.