Photocatalytic activity and synthesis procedures of TiO2 nanoparticles for potential applications in membranes

This chapter overviews the photocatalytic process, titanium dioxide (TiO2) oxidative action, the environmental/human health risks associated with the use of this semiconductor. TiO2 nanoparticles can be efficiently prepared by different synthesis methods, which include the sol-gel, hydrothermal and solvothermal techniques. Among these three methods, the sol-gel has been widely applied for the nanostructured TiO2 synthesis, while the hydrothermal and solvothermal techniques are important tools for the TiO2 nanoparticles synthesis for electronics and ceramics. The TiO2 incorporation in/on the polymeric membrane also allows the reduction of fouling and at the same time highly improves water permeability and self-cleaning ability. Photocatalysis is a challenging and low-cost technique for water and air treatment, for the destruction of microorganisms, for medical applications and for hydrogen production via water splitting. New perspectives exist in the TiO2 photocatalysis area, which require systematic evaluation, as the research results should offer advantages in terms of economic costs and environmental impact for the commercial sector