Sol-Gel Synthesis of Na2Ta4O11 Nanocrystals Showing High Efficient Photocatalytic Performance

Yi Guo Su; Xu Yang; Ting Ting Wang; Bao Ling Zhu; Xiao Jing Wang

doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.1058.35

Paper Titles

Fabrication of Plate-Like Sr₃Ti₂O₇ Particles Using Molten Salt Synthesis
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The Preparation Technology of SnO₂ Nanowires Based on the System of Al-SnO-Cu₂O
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Synthesis and Characterization of Flower-Like Co–La Oxide Micro/Nano Materials
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The Particle Size Control of Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Silica by Surfactant-Mediated Assembly of Silsesquioxane
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Sol-Gel Synthesis of Na₂Ta₄O₁₁ Nanocrystals Showing High Efficient Photocatalytic Performance
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Synthesis and Characterization of GdO⁺ Nanosheets Doped with Tm
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Preparing Superfine Quartz Sand Powder by Ball Milling Method
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Preparation of Sub-Micrometre Size Platinum Particles via Chemical Reduction of Hexachloroplatinic Acid in Aqueous Solution
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Solvothermal Synthesis of Carbon-Coated Nickel Nanoparticles in Ionic Liquid
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Sol-Gel Synthesis of Na₂Ta₄O₁₁ Nanocrystals Showing High Efficient Photocatalytic Performance

Abstract:

Semiconductors showing high efficient photocatalytic activity have attracted great interest, because they provide a potential solution to many environmental pollution problems that humankind is currently facing. This work reports on the sol-gel synthesis of Na₂Ta₄O₁₁ nanocrystals and its photocatalytic performance toward Red G. The samples were carefully characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and the Barrett–Emmett–Teller technique. By modulating the synthetic condition, the sol-gel reaction yielded pure Na₂Ta₄O₁₁ nanocrystals with diameter of ~32 nm from the peak broadening of (006) plane using Scherrer formula. It is found that the as-prepared Na₂Ta₄O₁₁ nanocrystals showed a band gap energy of 3.63 eV, which is much smaller than that of Na₂Ta₄O₁₁ prepared by flux approach. The relative narrowed band gap energy of Na₂Ta₄O₁₁ nanocrystals may predict superior photocatalytic activity. By careful photocatalytic test, it is found that Na₂Ta₄O₁₁ nanocrystals showed excellent photocatalytic activity toward Red G. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency was estimated to be 94.0% within a time intervals of 40 minutes. Controlled experiment by adding active species scavengers gave evidence that the degradation of Red G is dominated by the oxidation reaction of the generated O₂^-∙ active species taking place on the surface of the photocatalyst.