A new review article titled „TiO₂ mesocrystals: recent progress in synthesis, structure, and photocatalytic applications“ has been published in the journal Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials, authored by MSc. Anjali Valadi Palliyalil and Dr. Sanjay Gopal Ullattil from the Institute of Physics of Materials. Mesocrystal is best described as the superstructure of nanocrystals with a standard crystallographic orientation. The building blocks of mesocrystals, such as nanocrystals with anisotropic properties, can exhibit strongly directional characteristics and novel collective emergent behaviours.
The review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the design and application of TiO₂ mesocrystals. These materials, in both their motile and non-motile forms, in a catalytic/electrode system, are gaining global attention due to their unique structural properties and high potential in energy and environmental applications. The review critically discusses synthetic strategies, defect engineering, and the emerging role of mesocrystals in light-driven water splitting, pollutant degradation, and CO2 reduction. This work not only highlights cutting-edge developments since 2020 but also outlines promising directions for future interdisciplinary research employing these advanced functional materials, thereby addressing the EU’s sustainable development goals.
Adv. Compos. Hybrid Mater. is a Springer Nature journal with an impact factor of 23.2 (Q1).
