Anatase: A Highly Photocatalytic Form of Titanium Dioxide for Environmental Applications

Anatase is a crystalline form of titanium dioxide (TiO2) that is commonly used in photocatalysis and self-cleaning surfaces. It has a face-centered tetragonal crystal structure, which means that it has four atoms at its center and four atoms at its corners, forming a tetrahedral shape.
Anatase is known for its high photocatalytic activity, meaning that it can efficiently absorb light and generate charge carriers (electrons and holes) that can be used to drive chemical reactions. This property makes anatase a useful material for applications such as water purification, air purification, and self-cleaning surfaces.
Anatase is also stable under UV light, which is important for many photocatalytic applications. However, it is less stable under visible light, which can lead to degradation of the material over time. To improve the stability of anatase, researchers have developed other crystalline forms of TiO2, such as rutile and brookite, which have different properties and potential applications.