Recent Advances in TiO<sub>2</sub>-Based Photocatalysts for Efficient Water Splitting to Hydrogen

Titanium dioxide (TiO<sub>2</sub>) has been widely used as a potential candidate for the production of green hydrogen using the artificial photosynthesis approach. However, the wide bandgap (∼3.3 eV) of anatase TiO<sub>2</sub> makes it difficult to absorb a large fraction of...

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Main Authors: Muhammad Nisar, Niqab Khan, Muhammad I. Qadir, Zeban Shah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Nanomaterials
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/13/984
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author Muhammad Nisar
Niqab Khan
Muhammad I. Qadir
Zeban Shah
author_facet Muhammad Nisar
Niqab Khan
Muhammad I. Qadir
Zeban Shah
author_sort Muhammad Nisar
collection DOAJ
description Titanium dioxide (TiO<sub>2</sub>) has been widely used as a potential candidate for the production of green hydrogen using the artificial photosynthesis approach. However, the wide bandgap (∼3.3 eV) of anatase TiO<sub>2</sub> makes it difficult to absorb a large fraction of the solar radiation reaching the Earth, thus providing a low photocatalytic activity. Anatase TiO<sub>2</sub> absorbs only 4% of solar radiation, which can be improved by engineering its bandgap to enhance absorption in the visible region. In the literature, many strategies have been adopted to improve the photocatalytic activity of TiO<sub>2</sub>, such as metal and non-metal doping and heterojunctions. These techniques have shown incredible enhancement in visible light absorption and improved photocatalytic activity due to their ability to lower the bandgap of pure TiO<sub>2</sub> semiconductors. This review highlights different techniques like doping, heterojunctions, acidic modification, creating oxygen vacancies, and temperature- and pressure-dependence, which have improved the photochemical response of TiO<sub>2</sub> by improving charge-transfer efficiencies. Additionally, the charge-transfer mechanism and enhancement in the photochemical response of TiO<sub>2</sub> is discussed in each portion separately.
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spelling doaj-art-a10abbb857fa47bc93c650485cf902b62025-08-20T02:36:27ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912025-06-01151398410.3390/nano15130984Recent Advances in TiO<sub>2</sub>-Based Photocatalysts for Efficient Water Splitting to HydrogenMuhammad Nisar0Niqab Khan1Muhammad I. Qadir2Zeban Shah3Departamento de Ingeniería Eléctrica, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Alonso de Ribera 2850, Concepción 4070129, ChileSão Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo (USP), P.O. Box 369, São Carlos 13560-970, SP, BrazilInstituto de Química, Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Avenida Esperança s/n, Câmpus Samambaia, Goiânia 74690-900, GO, BrazilInstitute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, Porto Alegre 91501-970, RS, BrazilTitanium dioxide (TiO<sub>2</sub>) has been widely used as a potential candidate for the production of green hydrogen using the artificial photosynthesis approach. However, the wide bandgap (∼3.3 eV) of anatase TiO<sub>2</sub> makes it difficult to absorb a large fraction of the solar radiation reaching the Earth, thus providing a low photocatalytic activity. Anatase TiO<sub>2</sub> absorbs only 4% of solar radiation, which can be improved by engineering its bandgap to enhance absorption in the visible region. In the literature, many strategies have been adopted to improve the photocatalytic activity of TiO<sub>2</sub>, such as metal and non-metal doping and heterojunctions. These techniques have shown incredible enhancement in visible light absorption and improved photocatalytic activity due to their ability to lower the bandgap of pure TiO<sub>2</sub> semiconductors. This review highlights different techniques like doping, heterojunctions, acidic modification, creating oxygen vacancies, and temperature- and pressure-dependence, which have improved the photochemical response of TiO<sub>2</sub> by improving charge-transfer efficiencies. Additionally, the charge-transfer mechanism and enhancement in the photochemical response of TiO<sub>2</sub> is discussed in each portion separately.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/13/984titanium dioxide (TiO<sub>2</sub>)solar energyhydrogen productiondoping and heterojunction
spellingShingle Muhammad Nisar
Niqab Khan
Muhammad I. Qadir
Zeban Shah
Recent Advances in TiO<sub>2</sub>-Based Photocatalysts for Efficient Water Splitting to Hydrogen
Nanomaterials
titanium dioxide (TiO<sub>2</sub>)
solar energy
hydrogen production
doping and heterojunction
title Recent Advances in TiO<sub>2</sub>-Based Photocatalysts for Efficient Water Splitting to Hydrogen
title_full Recent Advances in TiO<sub>2</sub>-Based Photocatalysts for Efficient Water Splitting to Hydrogen
title_fullStr Recent Advances in TiO<sub>2</sub>-Based Photocatalysts for Efficient Water Splitting to Hydrogen
title_full_unstemmed Recent Advances in TiO<sub>2</sub>-Based Photocatalysts for Efficient Water Splitting to Hydrogen
title_short Recent Advances in TiO<sub>2</sub>-Based Photocatalysts for Efficient Water Splitting to Hydrogen
title_sort recent advances in tio sub 2 sub based photocatalysts for efficient water splitting to hydrogen
topic titanium dioxide (TiO<sub>2</sub>)
solar energy
hydrogen production
doping and heterojunction
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/13/984
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AT niqabkhan recentadvancesintiosub2subbasedphotocatalystsforefficientwatersplittingtohydrogen
AT muhammadiqadir recentadvancesintiosub2subbasedphotocatalystsforefficientwatersplittingtohydrogen
AT zebanshah recentadvancesintiosub2subbasedphotocatalystsforefficientwatersplittingtohydrogen