VO2@TiO2 Photocatalytic Switch

The sharp changes in optical and electrical properties in the VO2 metal–semiconductor phase transition are regarded as an on–off switch to regulate the photocatalytic performance of VO2@TiO2. As the switch is ON, the application of VO2 in the metal phase has doubled the photocatalytic performance of TiO2 in both rutile and anatase phases; as the switch is OFF, VO2 in the semiconducting phase has shrunk the photocatalytic performance of TiO2 by one-third. This innovative combination of thermochromism of VO2 and photocatalysis of TiO2 has effectively broadened the utilization of the two kinds of semiconductor materials.