development of the materials; (2) though the relatively narrow bandgap of rutile is
able to extend the absorption of the mixed-phase TiO 2 to some of the visible light
range, it is still unable to completely utilize all visible light from sunlight, limiting its
practical application in photocatalysis; and (3) although researchers all approve that
the mixed-phase crystal structure favors the effective separation of photo-generated
electrons and holes, thereby improving the photocatalytic activity, there is still much
controversy about the mobility direction of photo-generated excitons. It is necessary
for researchers to further study on the mechanism of the enhanced photocatalytic
performance of mixed-phase TiO 2 . Therefore, developing the mixed-phase TiO 2
nanomaterials, combining other advantageous structures (such as hierarchical structure) to enhance the utilization of the visible light, and exploring the mechanism of
photocatalytic reactions by newly developed characterization techniques will retain
as the challenges and hot research themes in the future.
Although mixed-phase TiO 2 photocatalysts have been studied for decades, it is
still a hot research theme owing to its excellent photocatalytic activity. With the
increase of serious energy crisis and environmental problems, the applications of
mixed-phase crystal TiO 2 are predicted to attract lasting and considerable attention.
References
1. Fujishima A, Honda K (1972) Electrochemical photolysis of water at a semiconductor
electrode. Nature 238(5358):37–38
2. Carey JH, Lawrence J, Tosine HM (1976) Photodechlorination of PCB’s in the presence of
titanium dioxide in aqueous suspensions. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 16(6):697–701
3. Habisreutinger SN, Schmidt-Mende L, Stolarczyk JK (2013) Photocatalytic reduction of CO 2
on TiO 2 and other semiconductors. Angew Chem Int Ed 52(29):7372–7408
4. Hu K, Robson KC, Johansson PG et al (2012) Intramolecular hole transfer at sensitized TiO 2
interfaces. J Am Chem Soc 134(20):8352–8355
5. Guo Q, Xu C, Ren Z et al (2012) Stepwise photocatalytic dissociation of methanol and water
on TiO 2 (110). J Am Chem Soc 134(32):13366–13373
6. Tian B, Chen F, Zhang J et al (2006) Influences of acids and salts on the crystalline phase and
morphology of TiO 2 prepared under ultrasound irradiation. J Colloid Interface Sci 303
(1):142–148
7. Tomkiewicz M, Dagan G, Zhu Z (1994) Morphology and photocatalytic activity of TiO 2
aerogels. Res Chem Intermed 20(7):701–710
8. Zhu S, Xie G, Yang X et al (2013) A thick hierarchical rutile TiO 2 nanomaterial with
multilayered structure. Mater Res Bull 48(5):1961–1966
9. Beuvier T, Richard-Plouet M, Mancini-Le Granvalet M et al (2010) TiO 2 (B) nanoribbons as
negative electrode material for lithium ion batteries with high rate performance. Inorg Chem
49(18):8457–8464
10. Xin X, Scheiner M, Ye M et al (2011) Surface-treated TiO 2 nanoparticles for dye-sensitized
solar cells with remarkably enhanced performance. Langmuir 27(23):14594–14598
11. Hosono E, Fujihara S, Imai H et al (2007) One-step synthesis of nano–micro chestnut TiO 2
with rutile nanopins on the microanatase octahedron. ACS Nano 1(4):273–278
12. Sinha AK, Jana S, Pande S et al (2009) New hydrothermal process for hierarchical TiO 2
nanostructures. Cryst Eng Comm 11(7):1210–1212
166
6 Phase Control of TiO 2 Photocatalyst
able to extend the absorption of the mixed-phase TiO 2 to some of the visible light
range, it is still unable to completely utilize all visible light from sunlight, limiting its
practical application in photocatalysis; and (3) although researchers all approve that
the mixed-phase crystal structure favors the effective separation of photo-generated
electrons and holes, thereby improving the photocatalytic activity, there is still much
controversy about the mobility direction of photo-generated excitons. It is necessary
for researchers to further study on the mechanism of the enhanced photocatalytic
performance of mixed-phase TiO 2 . Therefore, developing the mixed-phase TiO 2
nanomaterials, combining other advantageous structures (such as hierarchical structure) to enhance the utilization of the visible light, and exploring the mechanism of
photocatalytic reactions by newly developed characterization techniques will retain
as the challenges and hot research themes in the future.
Although mixed-phase TiO 2 photocatalysts have been studied for decades, it is
still a hot research theme owing to its excellent photocatalytic activity. With the
increase of serious energy crisis and environmental problems, the applications of
mixed-phase crystal TiO 2 are predicted to attract lasting and considerable attention.
References
1. Fujishima A, Honda K (1972) Electrochemical photolysis of water at a semiconductor
electrode. Nature 238(5358):37–38
2. Carey JH, Lawrence J, Tosine HM (1976) Photodechlorination of PCB’s in the presence of
titanium dioxide in aqueous suspensions. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 16(6):697–701
3. Habisreutinger SN, Schmidt-Mende L, Stolarczyk JK (2013) Photocatalytic reduction of CO 2
on TiO 2 and other semiconductors. Angew Chem Int Ed 52(29):7372–7408
4. Hu K, Robson KC, Johansson PG et al (2012) Intramolecular hole transfer at sensitized TiO 2
interfaces. J Am Chem Soc 134(20):8352–8355
5. Guo Q, Xu C, Ren Z et al (2012) Stepwise photocatalytic dissociation of methanol and water
on TiO 2 (110). J Am Chem Soc 134(32):13366–13373
6. Tian B, Chen F, Zhang J et al (2006) Influences of acids and salts on the crystalline phase and
morphology of TiO 2 prepared under ultrasound irradiation. J Colloid Interface Sci 303
(1):142–148
7. Tomkiewicz M, Dagan G, Zhu Z (1994) Morphology and photocatalytic activity of TiO 2
aerogels. Res Chem Intermed 20(7):701–710
8. Zhu S, Xie G, Yang X et al (2013) A thick hierarchical rutile TiO 2 nanomaterial with
multilayered structure. Mater Res Bull 48(5):1961–1966
9. Beuvier T, Richard-Plouet M, Mancini-Le Granvalet M et al (2010) TiO 2 (B) nanoribbons as
negative electrode material for lithium ion batteries with high rate performance. Inorg Chem
49(18):8457–8464
10. Xin X, Scheiner M, Ye M et al (2011) Surface-treated TiO 2 nanoparticles for dye-sensitized
solar cells with remarkably enhanced performance. Langmuir 27(23):14594–14598
11. Hosono E, Fujihara S, Imai H et al (2007) One-step synthesis of nano–micro chestnut TiO 2
with rutile nanopins on the microanatase octahedron. ACS Nano 1(4):273–278
12. Sinha AK, Jana S, Pande S et al (2009) New hydrothermal process for hierarchical TiO 2
nanostructures. Cryst Eng Comm 11(7):1210–1212
166
6 Phase Control of TiO 2 Photocatalyst