Facile nanocrystalline Ta3N5 synthesis for photocatalytic dye degradation under visible light

Abstract

Tantalum nitride (Ta3N5) nanoparticles were prepared using a simple modified urea glass route: reacting metal precursor and urea at room temperature, and then annealing the metal-urea complex at 700 °C under flowing nitrogen to obtain nanocrystalline Ta3N5 (Urea_Ta3N5). The resultant Urea_Ta3N5 sample exhibited smaller particle size and higher surface area compared to Ta3N5 produced by the typical nitridation method employing NH3 gas (NH3_Ta3N5), with substantially improved photocatalytic activity due to increased active sites. The facile synthesis and high photocatalytic activity means Urea_Ta3N5 would be a suitable photocatalyst for dye degradation