title: Zinc oxide functionalized human hair: A potential water decontaminating agent.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nano-ZnO is an efficient photocatalyst that can be employed for water purification but its separation from water is difficult. Immobilization of nano-ZnO on a fibrous material is expected to add practicality to its application.
  
  
  METHODS
  We synthesized ZnO nanostructures on a natural waste, human hair, via a cost-effective process, characterized the system and tested the efficacy of the composite for photo-decomposition of a few toxic materials in water.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Layers of well crystalline ZnO nanostructures grew homogeneously on hair strands, initially as thin plates that slowly turned with time into nanorods (length 400-600nm, width 28-30nm), converting the mildly hydrophobic hair (water contact angle 104°) surface into superhydrophobic (water contact angle 149°). The composite was found to effectively photodecompose toxic dyes like methylene blue, direct red, alizarin red S and aromatics (toluene), for multiple cycles without losing much efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Unilever R&D Bangalore, 64, Main Road, Whitefield, Bangalore 560066, India.
authors.forename: Somnath
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, India.
authors.forename: Sher Singh
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Meena
authors.affiliation: Unilever R&D Bangalore, 64, Main Road, Whitefield, Bangalore 560066, India. Electronic address: amitava.pramanik@unilever.com.
authors.forename: Amitava
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pramanik
keywords: Hydrophobic; Oil mop; Oleophilic; Photocatalyst; Toxic