Recent update on photocatalytic degradation of pollutants in waste water using TiO2-based heterostructured materials

Abstract

To address the difficulties of global energy demand and pollution, developing photocatalytic materials for renewable energy production and environmental decontamination has long been an extremely attractive prospect. The production of a stable and well-organized nanostructured photocatalyst, like titanium dioxide (TiO2), is still a difficult task. Due to its unique physical and chemical properties, low toxicity, biological inertness, low energy consumption, low operating temperature, water insolubility, ease of availability, high chemical stability and environmentally benign nature, TiO2 photocatalysts were widely used as an exciting photocatalyst for pollution remediation. But, their photocatalytic applications are limited by their broad band gap energy, which can only be stimulated under UV light and rapid charge carrier recombination. Moreover, its band gap energy was reduced in a number of ways for visible light activity. In this review, we summarize recent research advances in TiO2 based heterostructure as a photocatalyst, preparation strategies. After that, a comprehensive and critical analysis of the many recent advancement made in order to improve the visible light photocatalytic characteristics of TiO2 for the degrading organic dyes, as well as a selection of results and significant photodegradation mechanisms is provided. In conclusion, this review concludes with a summary and perspectives on the current challenges faced and new directions in this emerging area of research.

Keywords

• TiO2
• Metal-organic frameworks
• GO
• Noble metals
• Carbon nanotubes
• Semiconductors