Synthesis and Evaluation of Porous Semiconductor Hexaniobate Nanotubes for Photolysis of Organic Dyes in Wastewater

Catalysts

Maryam Zarei-Chaleshtori²  Victor Correa²  Natalie López¹  Manuel Ramos²  Roya Edalatpour²  Nancy Rondeau²  Russell R. Chianelli² 

[1] Universidad de Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, 259 Blvd. Alfonso Valdez Cabian, Mayagüez 00680, Puerto Rico; E-Mail:;Materials Research and Technology Institute, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA; E-Mails:

关键词: nanotubes;    photo-catalysis;    niobium;    STEM;   

DOI  :  10.3390/catal4040346

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

We present the chemical synthesis of hexaniobate nanotubes using two routes, (1) starting material K₄Nb₆O₁₇ and (2) parent material of H₄Nb₆O₁₇ via ion exchange. The as-synthesized materials were exfoliated by adjusting the pH to 9–10 using tetra-n-butylammonioum hydroxide (TBA⁺OH⁻), leading to a formation of hexaniobate nanotubes. In order to understand morphology a full characterization was conducted using SEM, HRTEM, BET and powder-XRD. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated using photolysis method using Bromocresol Green (BG) and Methyl Orange (MO) as model contaminants. Results indicate a nanotube porous oxide with large porous and surface area; the photocatalytic activity is about 95% efficient when comparing with commercial TiO₂.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.