(Ionic liquid)-derived morphology control of Nb2O5 materials and their photocatalytic propertiesElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Fig. S1 shows the calibration curve of the methylene blue concentration. Fig. S2 and S3 show XRD patterns and SEM images of Nb2O5 synthesized with the [Nb] : [[BMIm]Br] ratios of 1 : 0.1, 1 : 0.5, 1 : 1, and 1 : 3. Fig. S4 and S5 show the XRD patterns of Nb2O5 synthesized with molar ratios of [Nb] : [[BMIm]Br] = 1 : 1.5 and 1 : 4 with different hyd

• Main Authors: Du, Lei, Long, Zhouyang, Wen, Haimeng, Ge, Weilin, Zhou, Yu, Wang, Jun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1466-8033
• DOI: 10.1039/c4ce00987h

Pseudo-hexagonal TT phase Nb 2 O 5 with various uniform crystalline morphologies such as nanorods, fibers, flower-like clusters, bundles, and porous spheres are fabricated using a hydrothermal synthesis route with ionic liquids as guiding agents. Among these morphologies, nanorods, flower-like clusters and bundles are firstly observed for Nb 2 O 5 . The morphology control is easily achieved by variation of the ionic liquid concentration. A primary mechanism study indicates a similar variation regulation for morphologies of Nb 2 O 5 from rods to fibers and then spheres, when the ionic liquid concentration increases independent of the kind of ionic liquids. The photocatalytic activities of the obtained Nb 2 O 5 with various morphologies are evaluated using the photodegradation of methylene blue. The results indicate that the catalytic performance depends on the morphology, and nanorods, fibers and clusters show superior activities even in a concentrated methylene blue solution. This study develops a facile way to control the crystalline morphology of Nb 2 O 5 over a wide range and provides efficient photocatalysts using morphology control. Guided by ionic liquids, a morphology controlled synthesis of Nb 2 O 5 was achieved using a hydrothermal system, and the obtained materials demonstrated morphology-dependent photocatalytic properties.