TiO2-based Photocatalytic Cementitious Composites: Materials, Properties, Influential Parameters, and Assessment Techniques

Abstract

Applications of heterogeneous photocatalytic processes based on semiconductor particles in cement-based materials have received great attention in recent years to enhance the aesthetic durability of buildings and reducing global environmental pollution. Amongst all, titanium dioxide (TiO2) is the most widely used semiconductor particle in structural materials with photocatalytic activity because of its low cost, chemically stable nature, and absence of toxicity. Utilization of TiO2 in combination with cement-based materials would plunge the concentration of urban pollutants such as NOx. In fact, cementitious composites containing TiO2 have already found applications in self-cleaning buildings, antimicrobial surfaces, and air-purifying structures. This paper aims to present a comprehensive review on TiO2-based photocatalysis cement technology, its practical applications, and research gaps for further progression of cementitious materials with photocatalytic activity.

Glycerol-Mediated Facile Synthesis of Colored Titania Nanoparticles for Visible Light Photodegradation of Phenolic Compounds

“…TiO 2 is a semiconductor metal oxide that is used in a variety of applications, including, but not limited to, photocatalytic hydrogen generation [1], organic synthesis of chemicals [2], dye-sensitized solar cells [3], and environmental remediation [4,5,6]. When TiO 2 is used as a photocatalyst, it produces excited charges (electron and hole) upon irradiation by light energy higher than its bandgap.…”

A Novel Au@Cu2O-Ag Ternary Nanocomposite with Highly Efficient Catalytic Performance: Towards Rapid Reduction of Methyl Orange Under Dark Condition

“…Noble metal-semiconductor core-shell structured NCs keep respective properties of individual components, while presenting novel properties owing to the synergistic interfacial interaction between noble metal and semiconductor [27][28][29][30]. It is unfortunate that ZnO and TiO 2 semiconductors can only absorb and transport photons in the UV region of the solar spectrum [31]. In contrast, p-type Cu 2 O has an excellent visible light response [32,33].…”

CoS2/TiO2 Nanocomposites for Hydrogen Production under UV Irradiation

“…However, large scale hydrogen production is limited with these catalysts [20,21,22]. Among the materials studied, TiO 2 has been considered as the golden standard due to its significant characteristics that include photochemical stability, low toxicity, relative affordability, and ease of preparation [23]. Although the bandgap energy of TiO 2 necessitates the use of UV irradiation, composites of TiO 2 with co-catalysts, such as transition metal chalcogenides (TMCs), enable the catalysts to absorb visible light abundant in solar irradiation [24].…”