Recently, synthesis of hematite ( α-Fe₂O₃ ) nanotube arrays ( α-Fe₂O₃ NTs) deems as an important technique to efficiently solve intrinsic problems of α-Fe₂O₃ , for example, poor electron mobility, high electron-hole recombination rate and short hole diffusion length. In this paper, we reviewed the research progress in α-Fe₂O₃ NTs film fabricated by anodization on the surface of iron. It exhibited the formation mechanism of α-Fe₂O₃ NTs and its effect factors during anodization, such as solution composition, anodization conditions and heat treatment process and its applications in phtocatalyst applied in water treatment and phtoelectrocatalyst in hydrogen production through water reduction and supercapacitors. Finally, application prospect and research problems in α-Fe₂O₃ NTs were also proposed.