How Does Titanium Dioxide Work as a Photocatalyst?
When TiO2 absorbs UV light, it gets excited and generates electron-hole pairs. The excited electrons (e-) and holes (h+) can migrate to the surface of the TiO2 particles. These reactive species can then interact with water and oxygen molecules to form hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and superoxide anions (O2•-), which are highly reactive and can oxidize organic pollutants, breaking them down into less harmful compounds.
