Halloysite Nanotubes:
An ‘Aluminosilicate Nanosupport’
for Energy and Environmental
Applications
Gaurav Pandey, Maithri Tharmavaram and Deepak Rawtani
Abstract Environmental engineering focuses on the use of engineering principles
for protecting the local, as well as global environment, from damaging effects caused
either due to natural or human actions. One of the major tasks in this field is to
develop efficient and economical systems, which can assist in reducing the environmental pollution, especially in air and water. Additionally, development of ecofriendly systems which can act as energy storage devices is also a key thrust area of
research for environmental engineers and scientists. In recent years, emergence of
nanotechnology-based materials has proved to be a helping hand in many applications
in various sectors. However, the use of eco-friendly nanomaterials provide an upper
hand over other nanomaterials for such applications. One such environment-friendly
nanomaterial is Halloysite Nanotube (HNT). It is a naturally available, clay-based
aluminosilicate nanomaterial, which has attracted attention of many environmental
researchers in recent times. These nanotubes exhibit negative charge on the exterior
surface, while the internal lumen (interior surface) exhibits a net positive charge. The
current chapter highlights the usage of HNT as nano-support systems to immobilize
various types of guest molecules. Further, the use of such ‘guest molecule HNT’based nano-support systems for the remediation of environmental pollutants, as well
as for energy applications has been discussed.
Keywords Halloysite nanotubes · Environment · Energy · Pesticide · Pollution ·
Nanotechnology
1 Introduction
Population explosion and speedy industrialization have become a major cause for
the increasing environmental pollution in recent years. Air, water and soil are getting
polluted and adversely affected due to the development of civilization. Such polluted
environment is becoming a serious threat for the survival and health of human beings,
G. Pandey · M. Tharmavaram · D. Rawtani (B)
Institute of Research and Development, Gujarat Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar,
Gujarat, India
e-mail: rawtanid@gmail.com
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
L. Ledwani and J. S. Sangwai (eds.), Nanotechnology for Energy and Environmental
Engineering, Green Energy and Technology,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33774-2_5
125
An ‘Aluminosilicate Nanosupport’
for Energy and Environmental
Applications
Gaurav Pandey, Maithri Tharmavaram and Deepak Rawtani
Abstract Environmental engineering focuses on the use of engineering principles
for protecting the local, as well as global environment, from damaging effects caused
either due to natural or human actions. One of the major tasks in this field is to
develop efficient and economical systems, which can assist in reducing the environmental pollution, especially in air and water. Additionally, development of ecofriendly systems which can act as energy storage devices is also a key thrust area of
research for environmental engineers and scientists. In recent years, emergence of
nanotechnology-based materials has proved to be a helping hand in many applications
in various sectors. However, the use of eco-friendly nanomaterials provide an upper
hand over other nanomaterials for such applications. One such environment-friendly
nanomaterial is Halloysite Nanotube (HNT). It is a naturally available, clay-based
aluminosilicate nanomaterial, which has attracted attention of many environmental
researchers in recent times. These nanotubes exhibit negative charge on the exterior
surface, while the internal lumen (interior surface) exhibits a net positive charge. The
current chapter highlights the usage of HNT as nano-support systems to immobilize
various types of guest molecules. Further, the use of such ‘guest molecule HNT’based nano-support systems for the remediation of environmental pollutants, as well
as for energy applications has been discussed.
Keywords Halloysite nanotubes · Environment · Energy · Pesticide · Pollution ·
Nanotechnology
1 Introduction
Population explosion and speedy industrialization have become a major cause for
the increasing environmental pollution in recent years. Air, water and soil are getting
polluted and adversely affected due to the development of civilization. Such polluted
environment is becoming a serious threat for the survival and health of human beings,
G. Pandey · M. Tharmavaram · D. Rawtani (B)
Institute of Research and Development, Gujarat Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar,
Gujarat, India
e-mail: rawtanid@gmail.com
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
L. Ledwani and J. S. Sangwai (eds.), Nanotechnology for Energy and Environmental
Engineering, Green Energy and Technology,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33774-2_5
125