Facile one-pot solvothermal-assisted synthesis of uniform sphere-like Nb2O5 nanostructures for photocatalytic applications

Preparation of semiconductor nanomaterials with controlled morphology and uniform porous surface is of great interest for enhanced photocatalytic applications. In the work presented herein, uniform sphere-like niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5) nanostructures were synthesized by a one-pot solvothermal method using ammonium niobate oxalate and octadecylamine as precursor and surfactant, respectively. The synthesized Nb2O5 nanostructures were then employed as photocatalyst for degradation of methylene blue (MB) and rose bengal (RB) dyes under ultraviolet (UV) light. It was found that the prepared Nb2O5 nanostructures could degrade up to 87 % and 62 % of MB and RB dye after irradiation for 90 and 180 min, respectively.