Surface modification of T-Nb2O5 with low-crystallinity Nb2O5 to enhance photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B

Abstract

This work demonstrates the obtainment of an orthorhombic Nb2O5 (T) heterostructure synthesized by the polymeric precursor method coated with low-crystallinity Nb2O5 synthesized by the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. The sample was submitted to the photocatalytic degradation test using Rhodamine B (RhB) dye decolorization under UVC irradiation for 60 min. The heterostructure sample demonstrated a significant enhancement in photocatalytic performance as compared to orthorhombic Nb2O5, achieving complete degradation of RhB within 60 min. In contrast, the orthorhombic Nb2O5 sample only discolored 26% in the same duration.