BackgroundMetal oxide (MO) nanomaterials and related nanocomposites have been extensively studied for their potential use in water treatment. Because of their controlled morphologies, texture qualities, variable surface chemistry, distinct crystalline nature, high stability, and tunable band edges, MO nanostructured materials are highly selective towards deleting organic contaminants and heavy metal ions via adsorption and semiconductor photocatalysis. Metal-enhanced photocatalysis has recently received increasing interest, mainly due to the ability of the metal to directly or indirectly degrade pollutants. A diverse selection of MOs, with titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO), iron oxides (IO), and tungsten (W), as well as graphene-MOs nanocomposites with variable structure, crystalline, and morphological properties, offers a powerful platform for the growth of effective catalysts.MethodsThe current work …