Modification strategies of TiO₂ for potential applications in photocatalysis: a critical review

ABSTRACT

TiO₂ has received tremendous attention owing to its potential applications in the field of photocatalysis for solar fuel production and environmental remediation. This review mainly describes various modification strategies and potential applications of TiO₂ in efficient photocatalysis. In past few years, various strategies have been developed to improve the photocatalytic performance of TiO₂, including noble metal deposition, elemental doping, inorganic acids modification, heterojunctions with other semiconductors, dye sensitization and metal ion implantation. The enhanced photocatalytic activities of TiO₂-based material for CO₂ conversion, water splitting and pollutants degradation are highlighted in this review.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• TiO₂
• modification strategies
• CO₂ conversion
• water splitting
• pollutants degradation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

M. Humayun received his PhD degree in Chemistry & Materials Science from Heilongjiang University China in 2017. He received the distinguished PhD scholar award (30000 RMB) from the Chinese Government in 2016. Furthermore, he received the outstanding graduate award from Heilongjiang University in 2017. Currently, he is working in Prof. Luo Wei group as a postdoc researcher in the School of Optical & Electronics Information, Huazhong University of Science & Technology (HUST) China, under the China postdoc research program. He received the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation project grant in 2017 (Grant no. 2017M622404). His current research interests include the design of visible-light-driven nanophotocatalysts for solar fuel production and environmental purification.

F. Raziq received his PhD degree in Chemistry & Materials Science from Heilongjiang University, in 2017. He received the distinguished PhD scholar award (30000 RMB) from the Chinese Government in 2016. Currently, he is working as a postdoc researcher in Prof. Liang Qiao group Institute of Fundamental and Frontier of Sciences, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, under the China postdoc research program. His current research interests include synthesis of visible-light responsive materials for CO₂ conversion and water splitting.

A. Khan received his PhD degree in Physical Chemistry from Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan, in 2010. He joined the Department of Chemistry Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan Pakistan as an Assistant Professor in 2011. His research interests include Polymer Science, Colloids & Surfactants, and Materials Chemistry.

W. Luo received his PhD degree in Electronic Science and Technology from Huazhong University of Science & Technology China, in 2009. From 2009 to 2012, he worked as a postdoc researcher in the School of Optical & Electronics Information, Huazhong University of Science & Technology (HUST) China. From 2012 to 2016, he worked as a Lecturer in the School of Optical & Electronics Information, (HUST), China. From 2014 to 2016, he worked as a postdoc researcher in the United States University of Michigan (ANA). From 2016 till date, he is working as an Associate Professor in the School of Optical & Electronics Information, (HUST), China. His current research interests include SAW sensors and low-dimensional semiconductor sensing materials.

Additional information

Funding

The work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under [grant no. 11574106, 61771448 and 51635007], the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation under [grant no. 2017M622404], and the Fundamental Research Projects of Shenzhen City [JCYJ20150831202835225].