Multifunctional robust TiO2@fabrics with special wettability demonstrated potential applications for excellent UV shielding, effective self-cleaning, efficient oil–water separation and microfluidic management.

Hydrogen production from water splitting by photo/photoelectron‐catalytic process is a promising route to solve both fossil fuel depletion and environmental pollution at the same time. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotubes have attracted much interest due to their large specific surface area and highly ordered structure, which has led to promising potential applications in photocatalytic degradation, photoreduction of CO2, water splitting, supercapacitors, dye‐sensitized solar cells, lithium‐ion batteries and biomedical devices. Nanotubes can be fabricated via facile hydrothermal method, solvothermal method, template technique and electrochemical anodic oxidation. In this report, we provide a comprehensive review on recent progress of the synthesis and modification of TiO2 nanotubes to be used for photo/photoelectro‐catalytic water splitting. The future development of TiO2 nanotubes is also discussed.

Robust superhydrophobic fabrics constructed by a novel environmentally friendly coating strategy demonstrate multifunctional applications for effective anti-fouling, self-cleaning and versatile oil/water separation.

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Inspired by the hierarchical structure of the mastoid on the micrometer and nanometer scale and the waxy crystals of the mastoid on natural lotus surfaces, a facile one-step hydrothermal strategy is developed to coat fl ower-like hierarchical TiO 2 micro/nanoparticles onto cotton fabric substrates (TiO 2 @ Cotton). Furthermore, robust superhydrophobic TiO 2 @Cotton surfaces are constructed by the combination of hierarchical structure creation and low surface energy material modifi cation, which allows versatility for self-cleaning, laundering durability, and oil/water separation. Compared with hydrophobic cotton fabric, the TiO 2 @Cotton exhibits a superior antiwetting and selfcleaning property with a contact angle (CA) lager than 160° and a sliding angle lower than 5°. The superhydrophobic TiO 2 @Cotton shows excellent laundering durability against mechanical abrasion without an apparent reduction of the water contact angle. Moreover, the micro/nanoscale hierarchical structured cotton fabrics with special wettability are demonstrated to selectively collect oil from oil/water mixtures effi ciently under various conditions (e.g., fl oating oil layer or underwater oil droplet or even oil/water mixtures). In addition, it is expected that this facile strategy can be widely used to construct multifunctional fabrics with excellent self-cleaning, laundering durability, and oil/water separation. The work would also be helpful to design and develop new underwater superoleophobic/superoleophilic materials and microfl uidic management devices.