Functional Metal Oxide Surfaces: Photocatalytic, Self-Cleaning, Sensing, and Micro/Nanostructuring Applications

Abstract

Titanium oxide (TiO2) is one of the most used photocatalytic materials for various applications such as environmental remediation, (solar)water splitting, and self-cleaning due to its high activity, low cost, high chemical, and physical stability. However, the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 is limited by the wide energy of the bandgap, low quantum efficiency, and rapid recombination of photogenerated charge carriers (electrons and holes).