Production processes of benzaldehyde have been studied intensively due to its wide range of applications in the industry. The selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde by TiO 2 is promising as it can occur under mild conditions without toxic by-products. This article mainly describes the challenges in the photooxidation of benzyl alcohol and the strategies to enhance both the efficiency and selectivity for benzaldehyde. Visible-light response, charge separation, morphology, and reaction conditions have been listed as critical factors for this process. Different modification methods to improve the insufficient photocatalytic activity of TiO 2 , such as surface adjustments, metal/non-metal doping, or semiconductor coupling, are presented. The perspectives for further research in this field are also discussed.