Unveiling the Multiscale Potential of TiO2 Nanomaterials: From Photocatalytic Dye Degradation to Gravitational Wave Detection

 This work explores the versatile applications of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanomaterials, demonstrating their ability to function across different length scales. One focus area is the development of one-dimensional TiO2 nanotubes for photocatalytic dye degradation. These nanotubes possess unique properties that enhance their ability to degrade organic pollutants under light irradiation. The research investigates the factors influencing the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanotubes, aiming to optimize their performance for environmental remediation applications. Moving to a thin film geometry, the study investigates the application of TiO2:GeO2 thin films as mirrors for gravitational wave detectors. By precisely controlling the composition and structure at the nanoscale, these thin films achieve high reflectivity and exceptional optical properties. This makes them crucial components in advanced detectors designed to sense gravitational waves, ripples in spacetime predicted by Einstein's theory of general relativity. The research explores the fabrication and characterization of TiO2:GeO2 thin films, optimizing their properties for enhanced gravitational wave detection sensitivity. This combined research effort highlights the diverse functionalities achievable by engineering TiO2 nanomaterials. By harnessing their properties across different dimensions, from one-dimensional nanotubes to thin films, TiO2 nanomaterials offer promising solutions for environmental purification and groundbreaking scientific discoveries in gravitational wave astronomy.