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Microwave-assisted synthesis of Nb2O5 for photocatalytic application of nanopowders and thin films

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2017

Gilberto Falk ,
Mario Borlaf ,
María José López-Muñoz ,
Juan Carlos Fariñas ,
João Batista Rodrigues Neto  and
Rodrigo Moreno
Gilberto Falk
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, SC, Brazil
Mario Borlaf
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, SC, Brazil
María José López-Muñoz
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical and Environmental Technology, Rey Juan Carlos University, Móstoles 28933, Madrid, Spain
Juan Carlos Fariñas
Affiliation:
Institute of Ceramics and Glass, CSIC, Madrid 28049, Spain
João Batista Rodrigues Neto
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, SC, Brazil
Rodrigo Moreno*
Affiliation:
Institute of Ceramics and Glass, CSIC, Madrid 28049, Spain
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: rmoreno@icv.csic.es
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Abstract

A new rapid and energy saving method for the obtention of high performance nanoparticles and thin films of Nb2O5 by microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis is reported. The hydrothermal treatment of a sol–gel precursor solution in a microwave oven at 180 °C for 20 min was enough to obtain amorphous nanoparticles with average sizes of 40 nm. The calcination promotes the formation of different phases of Nb2O5 (TT and T) with pseudohexagonal and orthorhombic structure, respectively, that transform at higher temperatures in a mixture of orthorhombic and monoclinic phases. Crystalline phase composition was found to have a significant influence on the photocatalytic activity. The best photocatalytic performance was observed for the material mainly constituted by the TT-Nb2O5 phase. Thin films constituted by the TT phase were prepared by dip-coating. Photocatalytic experiments confirmed the high photocatalytic activity of this material, which showed a kinetic curve similar to that of a reference TiO2-P25 thin film.

Keywords

Nbmicrowave heatingfilm
Type
Invited Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 32 , Issue 17: Focus Issue: Achieving Superior Ceramics and Coating Properties through Innovative Processing , 14 September 2017 , pp. 3271 - 3278
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Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2017 

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Footnotes

b)

Current Address: Empa, Laboratory for High Performance Ceramics, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland.

Contributing Editor: Eugene Medvedovski

References

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