Advances in TiO₂-enhanced photocatalytic building materials: applications in cement and asphalt for environmental purification

TiO₂ is the most popular semiconductor photocatalyst owing to its high quantum efficiency, chemical stability, low cost, and non-toxicity, making it an excellent photocatalyst with significant application potential. Integrating the environmental photocatalysis of TiO₂ with traditional building materials offers the opportunity to develop green construction materials with advanced functionalities. These materials can facilitate the degradation of surface pollutants, enable self-cleaning, and contribute to environmental purification. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the advancements in photocatalytic cement and asphalt materials, explores various methods for incorporating TiO₂, and delves into the underlying mechanisms of photocatalytic degradation. Furthermore, it addresses the limitations of current research, offering valuable insights and guidance for future studies in the field of photocatalytic building materials for carbon neutrality.