Enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from water by niobate single molecular sheets and ensembles

Abstract

We report single molecular sheets of niobate prepared by a simple bottom-up approach using hydrothermal synthesis of niobium ethoxide with the aid of triethanolamine as a structural modifier: the high kinetic stability of these molecular entities against self-assembly allows them to mix well with other colloids and facilitates their extensive electronic interactions and thus photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity from water is much enhanced over composite of single niobate sheets with graphene and MoS2 due to efficient electron transfer and charge separation.

MoS2 as a co‐catalyst for photocatalytic hydrogen production from water

“…Nakagawa et al. prepared single molecular sheets of niobate (K 4 Nb 6 O 17 ) by a hydrothermal approach using niobium ethoxide with the aid of triethanolamine (TEOA) as a structural modifier (Fig. ).…”

“…(A) TEM image of niobte/ TEOA and (B) HRTEM image of discrete niobate/ TEOA single molecular sheets. Reproduced with permission .…”

Ultrathin HNbWO6 nanosheets: facile synthesis and enhanced hydrogen evolution performance from photocatalytic water splitting

“…24,25 However, this type of exfoliation is considered to be time-consuming owing to slow diffusion processes and takes typically 1-2 weeks according to several reports. 26 In view of this, it is necessary to develop a very rapid and time-efficient approach for the preparation of 2D metal oxides nanosheets.…”

Nb2O5‐Based Photocatalysts

“…Previously, Nb 2 O 5 nanosheets could be fabricated directly from the raw Nb 2 O 5 and NbCl 5 without any templates or organic polymers. [ 43 ] For instance, ≈3–5 nm T‐Nb 2 O 5 nanosheets were produced from commercial NbO 2 particles in a solution containing ethanol and urea under 130 °C for 30 days. [ 44 ] Similarly, TT‐Nb 2 O 5 nanosheets were also synthesized from NbCl 5 in ethylenediamine solution by hydrothermal treatment and calcination.…”