Bird’s nest-like Nb₂O₅: preparation, characterization and multifunctional photocatalytic application

Figures & data

Figure 1. FTIR spectra (a) and XRD patterns (b) of samples. The high-resolution XPS of Nb and O elements in Nb₂O₅/PVP sample.

Figure 2. SEM images of Nb₂O₅ (a) and Nb₂O₅/PVP (b, c). TEM (d, e) and HRTEM (f) images of Nb₂O₅/PVP.

Figure 3. The N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms (a), pore properties (b), variation curve of statistical thickness with p/p₀ (c) of pristine Nb₂O₅ and Nb₂O₅/PVP.

Figure 4. The photodegradation reaction of MO/RhB using Nb₂O₅ and Nb₂O₅/PVP and the associated reaction kinetics.

Figure 5. The photodegradation reaction of TC using Nb₂O₅/PVP and the associated reaction kinetics.

Table 1. Comparison of visible-light-driven photocatalysis for TC degradation.

Catalyst	Dosage (g/L)	100 mL TC concentration (mg/L)	Efficiency (%)	Reaction rate/time	Reference
Nb2O5/PVP	0.1	10	90.4	0.0824 min^−1 /25 min	This work
barium silicate	0.05	30 mg/L (50 mL)	93.2	2 h	[30]
CuAl−LDH@g− CN	0.18	30	96.0	90 min	[31]
LaCoO3/ZnO	0.1	30 mg/L (40 mL)	70	0.0179 min^−1 /90 min	[32]
SnWO4/BiMoO6	0.06	20	96	0.031min^−1 /90 min	[33]
HC/BiVO4	0.5	50	86.4	1.1552 L mol^−1 min^−1/120 min	[34]
Pd@Fe3O4/MMT with 0.19 g/mL H2O2	0.55	40	84	0.03231 min^−1/60 min	[35]
CN-CoxMe	0.1	10	82	0.01188min^−1 /120 min	[36]
g-C3N4@N-doped Bi2MoO6	0.03	10 (50 mL)	93.46	0.0.34 min^−1 / 120 min	[37]
BOCH-SOF	0.2	25	99	0.033 min^−1/30 min	[38]
BiOI/BiOBr	0.06	10 (160 mL)	93.03	1.4472 min^−1/90 min	[39]
NiCo–BiVO4	0.15	10 (250 mL)	87.2	0.066 min^−1/120 min	[40]

Figure 6. The reuse performance.

Figure 7. The UV-vis DRS spectra of Nb₂O₅ (a) and Nb₂O₅/PVP (b), (Inset: The related band gap energy); PL spectra (c) and EIS spectra (d) of Nb₂O₅ and Nb₂O₅/PVP.

Figure 8. DMPO spin-trapping ESR spectra in Nb₂O₅ and Nb₂O₅/PVP in dark or under ultraviolet visible light irradiation: (a) and (b) in aqueous dispersion for DMPO-·OH, (c) and (d) in methanol dispersion for DMPO-·O₂⁻.

Table 2. The intensity value of free radical signal and the related square value from ESR test.

samples	·OH signal intensity value	the square of ·OH signal intensity value	·O2^− signal intensity value	the square of ·O2^− signal intensity value
Nb2O5	354.21	125464.72	137.85	19002.62
Nb2O5/PVP	817.50	668306.25	280.83	78865.49

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