Surface structural design and mechanism study of photo-electrochemical activity of metal oxide photocatalyst
​Developing a novel heterogeneous semiconductor nanostructures for photocatalysis, for example, multi-heterojunction or core-shell TiO2-based hybrids which consists of TiO2 nanosheets, nanowires, and hierarchical nanostructures by simple hydrothermal process and water-organic liquid mixtures as both the solvent and shape-inducing template. By controlling the size, shape, composition, crystal structure and surface properties of these structures, it enables us not only to uncover their intrinsic properties, but exploit their formation mechanism, as well as their applications in photocatalysis, etc. This green chemistry process also may be extended to synthesize other inorganic nanostructures with novel properties, morphology and complex form.