Artificial Photosynthesis with Titania Photocatalysts

Abstract

Increasing energy demand and global warming due to extensive use of fossil fuels will soon force mankind to use clean and sustainable fuels and artificial photosynthesis is being considered as a promising solution to both problems. Photocatalysis is a light induced process involved in artificial photosynthesis and it will make a great contribution to the solution of environmental problems and generation of renewable energy sources. Titania based photocatalytic materials are one of the widely used materials in artificial photosynthesis research due to their unique chemical and optical properties. Recent research have shown that the activity of titania phases can be improved in the visible light region by several modification techniques. This paper aims to present a brief review based on the last 2 decades of global research on the preparation and modification of titania based photocatalysts, their application and importance in artificial photosynthesis and its effect on reducing global warming by generating a sustainable energy source. This review is mostly based on the PhD thesis of the corresponding author (Yurtsever, 2015).