Wet-Chemical Preparation of TiO(2)-Based Composites with Different Morphologies and Photocatalytic Properties

TiO(2)-based composites have been paid significant attention in the photocatalysis field. The size, crystallinity and nanomorphology of TiO(2) materials have an important effect on the photocatalytic efficiency. The synthesis and photocatalytic activity of TiO(2)-based materials have been widely investigated in past decades. Based on our group’s research works on TiO(2) materials, this review introduces several methods for the fabrication of TiO(2), rare-earth-doped TiO(2) and noble-metal-decorated TiO(2) particles with different morphologies. We focused on the preparation and the formation mechanism of TiO(2)-based materials with unique structures including spheres, hollow spheres, porous spheres, hollow porous spheres and urchin-like spheres. The photocatalytical activity of urchin-like TiO(2), noble metal nanoparticle-decorated 3D (three-dimensional) urchin-like TiO(2) and bimetallic core/shell nanoparticle-decorated urchin-like hierarchical TiO(2) are briefly discussed.