Visible-light responsive Cr(VI) reduction by carbonyl modification Nb3O7(OH) nanoaggregates

• Published in: Journal of materials science Vol. 53; no. 17; pp. 12065 - 12078
• Main Authors: Wang, Tianning, Wang, Jinshu, Wu, Junshu, Du, Yucheng, Li, Yongli, Li, Hongyi, Yang, Yilong, Jia, Xinjian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.09.2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: absorption; Acetic acid; Acids; Carbonyl groups; Carbonyls; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemical Routes to Materials; Chemical synthesis; Chemistry and Materials Science; chromium; Citric acid; Classical Mechanics; Crystallography and Scattering Methods; Electromagnetic absorption; Exhaustion; Functional groups; Materials Science; moieties; Morphology; Phase transitions; photocatalysts; Photochemistry; Polymer Sciences; Reaction time; Reduction; remediation; Solar energy; Solid Mechanics; Surface chemistry; Tartaric acid; Amorphous Nb2O5; Hole Scavenger; Effective Surface Modification; Visible Light Photoredox Catalysis; Nanoaggregates
• ISSN: 0022-2461; 1573-4803
• DOI: 10.1007/s10853-018-2496-9

Nanostructured photocatalysts have become a subject of much interest, with most research focusing on the visible-light sensitization in order to effectively utilize incoming solar energy for environmental remediation. Herein, we design an acetic acid-assisted solvothermal strategy, enabling Nb 3 O 7 (OH) nanoaggregates with C=C and C=O functional groups on the surface and extending the absorption edge located at 550 nm approximately. The success extension of harvesting light from intrinsic UV region below 380 nm to visible region relies on effective surface modification by carbonyl groups originated from citric acid in acetic acid solution. Specifically, the unique C=O-rich surface state and advantageous structural features render them particularly attractive for Cr(VI) photoreduction applications with the assistance of hole scavenger tartaric acid. No phase or morphology transition occurs during Cr(VI) reduction. The reaction rate slows down and the photoresponse area turns back into intrinsic UV region of Nb 3 O 7 (OH) with the prolonging reaction time, originating from the exhaustion of surface C=O functional groups. This work is expected to help to elucidate the rational design and efficient synthesis of visible-light absorption catalyst materials for actual applications in the near future.