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.