Heterogeneous photocatalysts might be used to convert solar into chemical energy or to decompose organic pollutants. Titania has been the hub of much research in this area but it is not efficient.

Now, a focus on the stable and low energy, {101}, face of titania crystals has led to the possibility of growing tunable microparticles for various applications. Researchers in China and the US have used a simple one-pot hydrothermal method to produce flower-shaped microspheres and tested them successfully in the photochemical degradation of potentially hazardous wastewater contaminants, such as azo dyes.

• Tunable photocatalytic selectivity of TiO₂ films consisted of flower-like microspheres with exposed {001} facets
  Q. Xiang, J. Yu, M. Jaroniec,
  Chem. Commun. 2011.
  DOI: 10.1039/c1cc10501a