Synthesis and Applications of TiO₂ -based Nanostructures as Photocatalytic Materials

TiO₂ photocatalysis, as an energy-saving, high-efficiency and green technology, has a wide range of applications in sewage treatment, cancer treatment, hydrogen production, photocatalytic CO₂ reduction and photocatalytic sensors. However, the large band width (E_g =3.2 eV) of TiO₂ material hinders its practical application, which in turn leads to low visible-light utilization and low quantum yield. Therefore, the preparation of TiO₂ with high quantum yield and fast response to visible light has become a key topic in current photocatalyst research. This review discusses different photocatalytic applications, current synthetic techniques for the elaboration of nanostructures of several TiO₂ -based materials and recent advances in enhancing visible photocatalytic activity.