Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is one of the most widely used metal dioxides for applications such as semiconductors, photocatalysts, pigments, pharmaceutical excipients, and antimicrobials. Applications of TiO₂ are increasing over time, and new properties are being added as it becomes available in nanometric size. This review presents the challenges and the advances in the use of surface-modified TiO₂ in various fields: as a photocatalyst and catalyst focusing on environmental remediation of wastewater, its role in solar cells, in biomedical and antimicrobial applications, its role in various composites, especially textile fibers, and finally as a polymer filler in multiple matrices. All the advances discussed here are primarily concerned with how titanium dioxide crystals can be surface modified at the new properties that can be achieved, considering the advantages and drawbacks of every modification discussed here.

Graphical abstract

Surface modification of TiO₂ and its use as A) complexes for biomedical applications, B) photocatalyst, C) substrate in solar cells, and D) drug delivery systems