Engineered TiO2 Nanocatalysts for Photocatalytic Methane Conversion: Modification Strategies, Reactor Engineering, and Mechanistic Insights

Zhuo Liu; Huanhuan Sun; Wenlei Zhu

doi:10.53941/dn.2026.100005

Abstract

Photocatalytic methane conversion provides a sustainable way to convert abundant methane resources into high value-added chemicals under mild conditions. Photocatalysts based on titanium dioxide (TiO₂) have attracted much attention for their high stability, low cost and suitable electronic structure. However, the inefficiency and poor product selectivity of the original TiO₂ seriously limit its practical application. This paper systematically reviews the research progress of TiO₂-based photocatalysts in methane conversion in recent years from two complementary perspectives. First of all, the five main catalyst modification strategies are discussed in detail, including crystal facet engineering, doping and defect engineering, catalyst modification, porous structure construction and heterojunction engineering, with emphasis on their roles in regulating charge separation, surface reaction pathways, and intermediate conversion. These strategies significantly improve the performance of catalysts. For example, on Pd-O_v co-modified TiO₂, the yield of C₁ oxygen-containing compounds is as high as 54,693 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹, and the selectivity is close to 100%. Secondly, this article focuses on the latest progress of reactor engineering and advanced in-situ characterization technology, and explains how the reaction environment, mass transfer process and mechanism analysis jointly promote the practical application of photocatalytic methane conversion. Finally, this paper discusses the challenges and future prospects of high-efficiency selective methane conversion, aiming to guide the development of the next-generation titanium dioxide-based photocatalytic system.

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