TiO2 Nanotube-Based Composites: Synthesis and Applications

TiO2 tubular nanostructures and their nanocomposites have caused more attention and induced intensive studies in low dimensional materials science owing to their advanced structures and outstanding properties, such as in the area of photocatalysis, dye-sensitized solar cells, and biomedical devices. Many approaches have been developed to improve the photocatalytic activities of TiO2 nanotubes according to decreasing the optical bandgap and to enabling a visible-light photoresponse. In this paper, we firstly reviewed the recent progress of syntheses for the TiO2 nanotube-based composites. In practical terms, some metals, oxides, sulfides, selenide and nonmetal elements were introduced into the TiO2 nanotube arrays to optimize their nanostructures. Then we further reviewed the improved photocatalytic activities caused by these dopants. These advanced TiO2 nanotube-based composites may have great potential applications in waste-water treatment.