Synthesis of Hierarchical 2D Fe₂TiO₅ Nanosheets for Efficient and Stable Visible Light CO₂ Conversion to Solar Fuels

Hierarchical structures have recently attracted significant interest due to their exceptional performance in energy storage and catalytic applications. In this study, novel hierarchical Fe₂TiO₅ nanosheets, fabricated by one-step solvothermal process, for boosted photocatalytic conversion of CO₂ with water to fuels, were investigated. The characteristics and properties of these photocatalysts were analyzed using various techniques including XRD, FESEM, TEM, XPS, UV–vis, and PL spectroscopy. The hierarchical Fe₂TiO₅ nanosheets demonstrated significant performance, yielding 149.5 µmole/g-cat of CH₃OH and 61.6 µmole/g-cat of dimethyl ether (DME), respectively. Compared to TiO₂ samples, the optimized 2D hierarchical nanosheets of Fe₂TiO₅ displayed 3.8-fold and 4.1-fold higher efficiency in CH₃OH and DME production, highlighting the advantages of their structure. The 2D hierarchical nanosheets of Fe₂TiO₅ facilitate electron transfer to CO₂ due to their unique structure, providing efficient electron pathways and electron storage sites within the nanosheets, thereby enhancing photoactivity. Moreover, the extended stability of Fe₂TiO₅ in CO₂ conversion further confirms the controllable selectivity and stability offered by the 2D hierarchical nanosheets structure. This study suggests that the fabrication of hierarchical structures holds promise for advancing high-performance photocatalysts for solar fuel production through CO₂ conversion.