Versatile Titanates: Classification, Property, Preparation, and Sustainable Energy Catalysis

Abstract Global warming, energy deficiency, and environmental deterioration triggered by burning fossil fuels, may severely impair economic development and human life and health. Green solar power, mechanical energy, and temperature fluctuation heat energy abound in nature and are readily accessible. Thanks to various appealing characteristics, titanates are universally employed to harvest these sustainable energy sources to produce renewable fuels through photocatalysis, piezocatalysis, and pyrocatalysis, alleviating above serious issues. In this review, the research progress in energy catalysis driven by solar light, mechanical stress, and temperature fluctuation over titanates is comprehensively described. It starts with the classification and introduction of diverse titanates. Next, the main methods for preparing titanates are introduced. Highlighted are titanates acting as cocatalysts, photocatalysts, piezocatalysts, and pyrocatalysts to participate in water splitting reaction for H 2 evolution and atmospheric CO 2 reduction conversion into CO or hydrocarbons. In particular, the material modification strategies for improving photocatalytic performance are discussed. Finally, the rosy prospects of the future development of energy catalysis application for titanates are looked into.