Emerging trends of pseudobrookite Fe2TiO5 photocatalyst: a versatile material for solar water splitting systems

Renewable energy production from diverse sources (such as solar, wind) is essential for achieving a sustainable and CO2-free society within a short duration. Green hydrogen is regarded as the most feasible fuel for the next generation of fuel-cell electric vehicles and associated technologies. Solar water splitting is a promising strategy for green hydrogen production because it is based on renewable sources with the potential to minimize the power costs in the production of H2 via electrolysis, which presents significant barriers. Iron titanate (Fe2TiO5), a visible-light-active photocatalyst, has emerged as a possible material for designing the next generation of water splitting photoelectrodes, as it is a low-cost, plentiful, and non-toxic oxide with favorable electronic, optical, and chemical properties for this application. This review summarizes recent advances in the use of Fe2TiO5 as a semiconducting material for solar water splitting applications, covering single photocatalytic systems and heterostructures such as Fe2TiO5/TiO2, Fe2TiO5/BiVO4, and Fe2TiO5/Fe2O3. Furthermore, this perspective review discusses and highlights strategies for developing effective Fe2TiO5 based water-oxidation materials.