Fabrication and Photocatalytic Properties of HLaNb2O7/(Pt, Fe2O3) Pillared Nanomaterial

Abstract

A novel intercalated nanomaterial HLaNb2O7/(Pt, Fe2O3) was fabricated by successive intercalated reaction of HLaNb2O7 with [Pt(NH3)4]Cl2 aqueous solution, with n-C6H13NH2/C2H5OH organic solution, and with [Fe3(CH3CO2)7(OH)(H2O)2]NO3 aqueous solution, followed by UV light irradiation. The intercalation of n-C6H13NH2 resulted in the formation of supramolecule HLaNb2O7·C6H13NH2 and the interlayer gallery expansion of HLaNb2O7. HLaNb2O7/(Pt, Fe2O3) possessed a gallery height of less than 0.5 nm and specific surface area of 24.46 m2/g, which indicated the formation of an intercalated nanomaterial and a porous material. HLaNb2O7/Fe2O3 and HLaNb2O7/(Pt, Fe2O3) showed a broad absorption over 450−600 nm, which indicated photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic activity of HLaNb2O7/Fe2O3 intercalated material was superior to that of unsupported Fe2O3 and was enhanced by the co-incorporation of Pt. With use of HLaNb2O7/(Pt, Fe2O3) as a catalyst, the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution was more than 110 cm3·h-1·g-1 in the presence of methanol as a sacrificial agent under irradiation with λ > 290 nm from a 100-W mercury lamp. Furthermore, the catalyst showed photocatalytic activity even under visible light irradiation.