TiO2-based building materials: Above and beyond traditional applications

In the 1910s, TiO2 began to be used in building materials as pigments and opacifier due to its excellent optical property. Since the photocatalytic property of TiO2 was observed in 1972, its application field was expanded to air cleaning and sterilization. Thereafter, people added TiO2 into building materials to develop novel and facile building materials. These materials were widely used for air cleaning, sterilization, self-cleaning, anti-fogging, decoration, and building cooling. The combination of building and other functions can serve simultaneously. Although TiO2-based building materials have bright prospects, some aspects such as improving the stability and enhancing photoactive performance of the materials are of importance for future research. Supported by the National High Technology Research and Development Program (“863” Program) of China (Grant No. 2007AA061402), Chinese Key Technology Research and Development Program of the Eleventh Five-year Plan (Grant No. 2006BAJ02A08), Hangzhou Science & Technology Development Program (Grant No. 20061133B27) and Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education (Grant No. 20070335197)