TiO2 Photocatalysis and Solar Cells

Titanium dioxide is a semiconductor that, when struck by light, can drive chemical reactions — breaking down pollutants, splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen, or generating electricity in thin-film solar devices. Because TiO₂ naturally absorbs only ultraviolet light, a large share of current research focuses on extending its sensitivity into the visible spectrum, either by doping the material with other elements or by attaching light-harvesting dye molecules, as in dye-sensitized solar cells. Nanostructuring the material — shaping it into tubes, rods, or porous films — further tunes its optical and electronic properties, increasing the surface area available for reactions and improving charge transport. Key open questions include how to design sensitizers that capture a broader slice of the solar spectrum without degrading quickly, and whether water-splitting efficiencies can reach the thresholds needed for practical hydrogen fuel production.

Works

93,124

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2,481,489

Keywords

PhotocatalysisSolar CellsTitanium DioxideNanomaterialsVisible LightDye-Sensitized