How titanium and iron are integrated into hematite to enhance the photoelectrochemical water oxidation: a review

Abstract

Hematite has been considered as a promising photoanode candidate for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water oxidation and has attracted numerous interests in the past decades. However, intrinsic drawbacks drastically lower its photocatalytic activity. Ti-based modifications including Ti-doping, Fe₂O₃/Fe₂TiO₅ heterostructures, TiO₂ passivation layers, and Ti-containing underlayers have shown great potential in enhancing the PEC conversion efficiency of hematite. Moreover, the combination of Ti-based modifications with various strategies towards more efficient hematite photoanodes has been widely investigated. Nevertheless, a corresponding comprehensive overview, especially with the most recent working mechanisms, is still lacking, limiting further improvement. In this respect, by summarizing the recent progress in Ti-modified hematite photoanodes, this review aims to demonstrate how the integration of titanium and iron atoms into hematite influences the PEC properties by tuning the carrier behaviours. It will provide more cues for the rational design of high-performance hematite photoanodes towards future practical applications.