Recent advances in TiO2-based photocatalysis

Semiconductor photocatalysis is a promising approach to combat both environmental pollution and the global energy shortage. Advanced TiO2-based photocatalysts with novel photoelectronic properties are benchmark materials that have been pursued for their high solar-energy conversion efficiency. In general, the photocatalytic efficiency is affected by the degree of light absorption, charge separation, and surface reactivity. Consequently, in this review we first discuss a series of interesting studies that aim to extend the light absorption of TiO2 from UV wavelengths into the visible or even the near-infrared region. We next focus on attempts to overcome the drawback that dopants usually act as charge recombination centres. We discuss the use of either selective local doping or the introduction of disorder together with doping, which aims to facilitate charge separation while preserving the visible-light response. We also show that crystal facet engineering can endow TiO2 with superior physicochemical properties, thus yielding high surface reactivity in photocatalytic reactions. Finally, we examine the recent theoretical advances of TiO2-based photocatalysis.