Progress in TiO2-based photocatalytic pavements for urban NOₓ mitigation: A comprehensive review

Abstract

Titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) based photocatalytic pavements are a promising technology for lowering nitrogen oxide (NO x ) concentrations close to traffic. This review synthesises laboratory and field evidence on TiO 2 -based pavements and maps the research landscape. Bibliometric analysis (2010-2025) shows that annual research output has risen steadily. China and the United States lead productivity, and 'NO x ', 'nano-TiO 2 ' and 'asphalt pavement' form the current keyword frontier, whereas 'visible light', 'heterojunction' and 'selectivity' are still emerging themes. TiO 2 incorporation methods, direct, indirect, and surface application, were scrutinized for their photocatalytic efficiency. Direct mixing dilutes and encapsulates the catalyst: at equal loading, asphalt matrices remove roughly 100 times less NO x than cement mortar. Carrier-based indirect routes and surface coatings restore activity, and surface-mounted TiO 2 aggregates achieve higher abatement with about seven times less TiO 2 , but coatings can lose most of their activity within 2-6 months under traffic. Humidity, flow rate, inlet concentration, temperature and irradiance govern performance, and cementitious substrates outperform bituminous ones. Credible field reductions cluster between 5 and 20% for roads and 10-25% for illuminated tunnels, with single-digit effects the norm under overcast, humid or soiled conditions. Durability rather than peak reactivity must therefore become the yardstick, and a four-metric readiness framework (FEP, MISB, EIRP, TELV) with measurable thresholds is proposed to enable standardised, whole-system evaluation.

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BibTeX RIS

BibTeX

@article{abadeen2026progress,
  title = {{Progress in TiO2-based photocatalytic pavements for urban NOₓ mitigation: A comprehensive review}},
  author = {Ali Zain Ul Abadeen and Cedric Vuye and Sammy Verbruggen and Manolis Romanias and Seyed Reza Omranian},
  journal = {Construction and Building Materials in Transportation},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1016/j.jcbmtr.2026.100026},
  url = {https://hal.science/hal-05779766v1},
  note = {CC BY},
}

RIS

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Progress in TiO2-based photocatalytic pavements for urban NOₓ mitigation: A comprehensive review
AU  - Ali Zain Ul Abadeen
AU  - Cedric Vuye
AU  - Sammy Verbruggen
AU  - Manolis Romanias
AU  - Seyed Reza Omranian
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/05
JO  - Construction and Building Materials in Transportation
DO  - 10.1016/j.jcbmtr.2026.100026
UR  - https://hal.science/hal-05779766v1
AB  - Titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) based photocatalytic pavements are a promising technology for lowering nitrogen oxide (NO x ) concentrations close to traffic. This review synthesises laboratory and field evidence on TiO 2 -based pavements and maps the research landscape. Bibliometric analysis (2010-2025) shows that annual research output has risen steadily. China and the United States lead productivity, and 'NO x ', 'nano-TiO 2 ' and 'asphalt pavement' form the current keyword frontier, whereas 'visible light', 'heterojunction' and 'selectivity' are still emerging themes. TiO 2 incorporation methods, direct, indirect, and surface application, were scrutinized for their photocatalytic efficiency. Direct mixing dilutes and encapsulates the catalyst: at equal loading, asphalt matrices remove roughly 100 times less NO x than cement mortar. Carrier-based indirect routes and surface coatings restore activity, and surface-mounted TiO 2 aggregates achieve higher abatement with about seven times less TiO 2 , but coatings can lose most of their activity within 2-6 months under traffic. Humidity, flow rate, inlet concentration, temperature and irradiance govern performance, and cementitious substrates outperform bituminous ones. Credible field reductions cluster between 5 and 20% for roads and 10-25% for illuminated tunnels, with single-digit effects the norm under overcast, humid or soiled conditions. Durability rather than peak reactivity must therefore become the yardstick, and a four-metric readiness framework (FEP, MISB, EIRP, TELV) with measurable thresholds is proposed to enable standardised, whole-system evaluation.
SN  - 3117-650X
SN  - 3117-650X
ER  -

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