Nor Arbani Sean, Elis Osman, Wan Nazihah Wan Ibrahim, Hadi Nur, Sheela Chandren
Titania (TiO2) photocatalysts continue to attract significant interest due to their efficiency, stability, and versatility in degrading organic pollutants from wastewater. Recent advances have focused on integrating thermo-responsive polymers with TiO2 to produce hybrid materials capable of dynamic, temperature-sensitive behavior that enhances photocatalytic performance. This review summarizes recent progress in the design, synthesis, and modification of thermo-responsive TiO2 photocatalysts, emphasizing key fabrication routes and the physicochemical properties responsible for improved pollutant degradation. The fundamental photocatalytic mechanisms governing these thermo-responsive systems are examined, with particular attention to polymer-TiO2 interactions and their influence on charge separation and surface activity. To offer a different perspective, a fuzzy-based performance and mechanistic analysis was applied to systematically evaluate the reported thermo-responsive photocatalytic efficiencies across heterogeneous literature data. Finally, current challenges and future research opportunities are discussed to guide the development of next-generation thermo-responsive TiO2 photocatalysts for advanced wastewater treatment. © 2026 Elsevier Ltd.
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor, Johor Bahru, 81310 UTM, Malaysia; Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor, Shah Alam, 40450, Malaysia; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Malang, Jawa Timur, 65145, Indonesia; Center of Advanced Materials for Renewable Energy (CAMRY), Universitas Negeri Malang, Jl. Semarang No. 5, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Centre for Sustainable Nanomaterials, Ibnu Sina Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research, Johor, Johor Bahru, 81310 UTM, Malaysia
