title: CNTs-Modified Nb3O7F Hybrid Nanocrystal towards Faster Carrier Migration, Lower Bandgap and Higher Photocatalytic Activity.
abstract: Novel semiconductor photocatalysts have been the research focus and received much attention in recent years. The key issues for novel semiconductor photocatalysts are to effectively harvest solar energy and enhance the separation efficiency of the electron-hole pairs. In this work, novel Nb3O7F/CNTs hybrid nanocomposites with enhanced photocatalytic activity have been successfully synthesized by a facile hydrothermal plus etching technique. The important finding is that appropriate pH values lead to the formation of Nb3O7F nanocrystal directly. A general strategy to introdue interaction between Nb3O7F and CNTs markedly enhances the photocatalytic activity of Nb3O7F. Comparatively, Nb3O7F/CNTs nanocomposites exhibit higher photodegradation efficiency and faster photodegradation rate in the solution of methylene blue (MB) under visible-light irradiation. The higher photocatalytic activity may be attributed to more exposed active sites, higher carrier migration and narrower bandgap because of good synergistic effect. The results here may inspire more engineering, new design and facile fabrication of novel photocatalysts with highly photocatalytic activity.
authors.affiliation: Low Carbon Energy Institute, China University of Mining &Technology, Xuzhou 221008, China.|School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Mining &Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Mining &Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Low Carbon Energy Institute, China University of Mining &Technology, Xuzhou 221008, China.
authors.forename: Aihua
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Mining &Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Low Carbon Energy Institute, China University of Mining &Technology, Xuzhou 221008, China.
authors.forename: Huagen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering &Technology, China University of Mining &Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China.
authors.forename: Qingyu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Mining &Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China.
authors.forename: Yinghuai
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qiang