Issue

Vol. 17 (2025)

Two-Dimensional TiO2 Ultraviolet Filters for Sunscreens

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-025-01805-1
Ruoning Yang
Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center (SGC), Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (SIGS), Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, People’s Republic of China
Jiefu Chen
Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center (SGC), Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (SIGS), Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, People’s Republic of China
Xiang Li
Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center (SGC), Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (SIGS), Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, People’s Republic of China
Yaxin Zhang
Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center (SGC), Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (SIGS), Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, People’s Republic of China
Baofu Ding
Shenzhen Key Lab of Energy Materials for Carbon Neutrality, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1068 Xueyuan Road, Shenzhen 518055, People’s Republic of China
Yujiangsheng Xu
Hipapa Xihe Laboratory, Run Science Park, 18 Shenzhou Road, Huangpu, Guangzhou 510663, People’s Republic of China
Shaoqiang Luo
Hipapa Xihe Laboratory, Run Science Park, 18 Shenzhou Road, Huangpu, Guangzhou 510663, People’s Republic of China
Shaohua Ma
Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene and Antibody Therapy, State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Shenzhen International Graduate School (SIGS), Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, People’s Republic of China
Xingang Ren
Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, People’s Republic of China
Gang Liu
Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, People’s Republic of China
Ling Qiu
Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center (SGC), Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (SIGS), Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, People’s Republic of China
Hui‑Ming Cheng
Shenzhen Key Lab of Energy Materials for Carbon Neutrality, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1068 Xueyuan Road, Shenzhen 518055, People’s Republic of China

Corresponding Author: Hui‑Ming Cheng

cheng@imr.ac.cn

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 17 (2025), Article Number: 300

Abstract

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been an important protective ingredient in mineral-based sunscreens since the 1990s. However, traditional TiO2 nanoparticle formulations have seen little improvement over the past decades and continue to face persistent challenges related to light transmission, biosafety, and visual appearance. Here, we report the discovery of two-dimensional (2D) TiO2, characterized by a micro-sized lateral dimension (~1.6 μm) and atomic-scale thickness, which fundamentally resolves these long-standing issues. The 2D structure enables exceptional light management, achieving 80% visible light transparency—rendering it nearly invisible on the skin—while maintaining UV-blocking performance comparable to unmodified rutile TiO2 nanoparticles. Its larger lateral size results in a two-orders-of-magnitude reduction in skin penetration (0.96 w/w%), significantly enhancing biosafety. Moreover, the unique layered architecture inherently suppresses the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under sunlight exposure, reducing the ROS generation rate by 50-fold compared to traditional TiO2 nanoparticles. Through precise metal element modulation, we further developed the first customizable sunscreen material capable of tuning UV protection ranges and automatically matching diverse skin tones. The 2D TiO2 offers a potentially transformative approach to modern sunscreen formulation, combining superior UV protection, enhanced safety and a natural appearance.


Highlights:
1 Two-dimensional (2D) TiO2 was developed with > 99% visible light transmittance for non-whitening UV protection, outperforming conventional 0D TiO2 in aesthetics while matching UV-blocking efficacy.
2 2D TiO2 achieves ultralow skin penetration and 90% reduced reactive oxygen species generation versus 0D TiO2, eliminating photocatalytic toxicity and DNA damage risks.
3 2D TiO2 enabled tunable UVA/UVB coverage via metal doping without compromising visible light transmittance, ensuring Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety compliance and biocompatibility.
4 We integrated high UV protection, natural appearance, and photoinertness into a single material, redefining aesthetic-safe sunscreen design through 2D structural innovation.

Keywords

Two-dimensional Titanium dioxide Sunscreen Biosafety
Yang, Ruoning, Jiefu Chen, Xiang Li, Yaxin Zhang, Baofu Ding, Yujiangsheng Xu, Shaoqiang Luo, Shaohua Ma, Xingang Ren, Gang Liu, Ling Qiu, and Hui‑Ming Cheng. 2025. “Two-Dimensional TiO2 Ultraviolet Filters for Sunscreens”. Nano-Micro Letters 17 (June):300. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-025-01805-1.
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