In this paper, the modification of photocatalytic materials or the development of novel photocatalytic materials from four aspects of light absorption, carrier separation, surface reaction and all-weather photocatalysis in this laboratory was summarized, and the applications of photocatalytic materials in organic pollutant degradation, photocatalytic hydrogen and oxygen production and tail gas treatment were discussed. The mechanism of photocatalytic activity enhancement was analyzed based on the energy band theory. In addition, the future development direction of photocatalytic materials was also prospected.