Engineering CuWO4 for functional applications: Insights into synthesis, structure, and optical properties

Copper tungstate (CuWO 4 ) has emerged as a material of interest due to its peculiar properties, which are of fundamental relevance across diverse fields. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent progress in the synthesis, structural modification, and application of CuWO 4 and its composite materials, with particular emphasis on doping, heterojunction composites, and surface functionalisation as strategies explored to enhance its photocatalytic performance. The mechanistic pathways of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation are discussed, along with a comparative assessment of degradation performance, kinetic rate constants, and catalyst stability, based on analogous studies in the literature. The review also addresses the challenges and limitations of CuWO 4 , including issues related to intrinsic conductivity and charge-carrier recombination, operational stability under working conditions, scalability and reproducibility of synthesis methods, as well as associated environmental and economic considerations. In addition, the potential of CuWO 4 as catalysts for large-scale production in sustainable water treatment systems is examined, and the future directions and opportunities are elucidated. Overall, CuWO 4 and its composite materials are promising sustainable solutions for water treatment, with future efforts directed toward hybrid system development, mechanistic refinement, and pilot-scale validation.