Abstract
To effectively improve photocatalytic activity, the morphology and crystallinity of semiconductor photocatalysts must be precisely controlled during the formation process. Self-aligned Nb2O5 nanotube arrays have been successfully fabricated using the electrochemical anodization method. A novel growth mechanism of Nb2O5 nanotubes has been proposed. Starting from the initial oxidation process, the “multi-point” corrosion of fluoride ions is a key factor in the formation of nanotube arrays. The inner diameter and wall thickness of the nanotubes present a gradually increasing trend with increased dissociative fluorine ion concentration and water content in the electrolyte. With dehydroxylation and lattice recombination, the increased crystallinity of Nb2O5 represents a reduction of lattice defects, which effectively facilitates the separation and suppresses the recombination of photo-generated carriers to enhance their catalytic degradation activity.
Highlights
IntroductionCompared with traditional biological and electrooxidized treatments, photocatalysis is an environmentally friendly technology for the treatment of all kinds of contaminants [1,2], especially for the removal of organic contaminants with solar energy, which mainly includes the oxidative decomposition of volatile organic compounds and purification of waste water
Compared with traditional biological and electrooxidized treatments, photocatalysis is an environmentally friendly technology for the treatment of all kinds of contaminants [1,2], especially for the removal of organic contaminants with solar energy, which mainly includes the oxidative decomposition of volatile organic compounds and purification of waste water.Semiconductor photocatalysts have been used to effectively reduce the concentration of organic pollutants and elevate the rate of hydrogen evolution in photocatalysis water under sunlight illumination [3,4], which has attracted attention and research over several decades
A schematic diagram of self-aligned Nb2 O5 nanotube arrays (NAs) by electrochemical anodization is shown in Figure 1, divided into initial oxidation corrosion and dehydration processes
Summary
Compared with traditional biological and electrooxidized treatments, photocatalysis is an environmentally friendly technology for the treatment of all kinds of contaminants [1,2], especially for the removal of organic contaminants with solar energy, which mainly includes the oxidative decomposition of volatile organic compounds and purification of waste water. Semiconductor photocatalysts have been used to effectively reduce the concentration of organic pollutants and elevate the rate of hydrogen evolution in photocatalysis water under sunlight illumination [3,4], which has attracted attention and research over several decades. With the characteristic morphologies of nanomaterials, nanotubes take many paralleled channels, which have outstanding advantages in photocatalytic applications [5]. Electrochemical oxidation is extensively used and explored due Catalysts 2020, 10, 1480; doi:10.3390/catal10121480 www.mdpi.com/journal/catalysts
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
