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Photocatalysts in the form of thin films such as TiO 2 show great potential for various applications due to their ease of separation after use and their diverse synthesis processes. However, pure TiO 2 has some intrinsic limitations, such as a wide bandgap (∼3.2 eV) which lowers its visible-light absorption and fast recombination of electrons and holes. Thus, it is necessary to modify TiO 2 thin film to increase its photocatalysis efficiency and overcome these problems. This review examines reports over the past 10 years on TiO 2 thin-film modification strategies using metal and non-metal modifiers with detailed possible mechanisms of modified TiO 2 thin-film including optical modification and heterostructure formation. Recent advancements indicate that modifications can reduce the band gap 0.14–0.85 eV lower compared to pure TiO 2 and several modified photocatalysts can degrade >90 % of pollutant molecules. This review also highlights the effect of synthesis methods such as sol-gel, hydrothermal, magnetron sputtering , atomic layer, and chemical vapor deposition on the film properties. The different methods lead to different properties including morphology, defects, optical properties , crystal structure, and roughness. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of synthesis methods, mechanisms, and performance enhancements, offering insights into the future design of high-efficiency TiO 2 thin film-based photocatalysts.
Mulus et al. (Fri,) studied this question.