Advances and Perspectives of Titanium-Based Nanocomposites for Energy Generation and Environmental Remediation Applications: A Review

Utilization of solar energy to induce photocatalytic reaction is receiving large attention from the scientific community because of its enhanced potential to address energy and environmental issues. Catalysts that absorb light energy to perform a particular reaction show various applications with great importance in the present world. Water splitting and hydrogen production are appealing technologies for clean, green, and renewable fuel sources. Therefore, it is necessary to summarize the technological progress in the field of photocatalysis along with its future challenges. The special physiochemical, morphological, and structural properties of titanium dioxide-based nanostructured materials encourage researchers to explore its environmental remediation and energy applications. In this Review, we are revealing the current and past research works executed on TiO2-based nanostructures for enhanced photocatalytic applications. Nanosized TiO2 with modifiers exhibit notable photocatalytic reaction toward hydrogen production, CO2 reduction, nitrogen fixation, pollutant removal, etc. A comprehensive encapsulation of various synthesis methods and applications of titanium-based photocatalysts is explained. Additionally, we highlighted the ongoing challenges and opportunities in this area, which will stimulate further testing and exploration to this discipline and successively lead to new discoveries for environmental remediation and energy applications.