Recent Advances in Niobium-Based Materials for Photocatalytic Solar Fuel Production

Abstract

The search for renewable and clean energy sources is a key aspect for sustainable development as energy consumption has continuously increased over the years concomitantly with environmental concerns caused by the use of fossil fuels. Semiconductor materials have great potential for acting as photocatalysts for solar fuel production, a potential energy source able to solve both energy and environmental concerns. Among the studied semiconductor materials, those based on niobium pentacation are still shallowly explored, although the number of publications and patents on Nb(V)-based photocatalysts has increased in the last years. A large variety of Nb(V)-based materials exhibit suitable electronic/morphological properties for light-driving reactions. Not only the extensive group of Nb2O5 polymorphs is explored, but also many types of layered niobates, mixed oxides, and Nb(V)-doped semiconductors. Therefore, the aim of this manuscript is to provide a review of the latest developments of niobium based photocatalysts for energy conversion into fuels, more specifically, CO2 reduction to hydrocarbons or H2 evolution from water. Additionally, the main strategies for improving the photocatalytic performance of niobium-based materials are discussed.

Spectrum Tailored Defective 2D Semiconductor Nanosheets Aerogel for Full‐Spectrum‐Driven Photothermal Water Evaporation and Photochemical Degradation

“…[ 10 ] Figure a,b shows the atomic force microscopy (AFM) image and height profiles of the D‐HNb 3 O 8 , which reveals a uniform nanosheet morphology with a thickness of about 1.2 nm, corresponding to a thin monolayer HNb 3 O 8 structure. [ 7b ] Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis discloses that metallic Pd nanoparticles with distinct lattice fringes of 0.23 nm are well‐dispersed on the ultrathin D‐HNb 3 O 8 nanosheets (Figure 2c,d). [ 11 ] Importantly, the high resolution TEM (HRTEM) image shows localized lattice disorder on the monolayer D‐HNb 3 O 8 nanosheets (Figure 2e; Figure S1, Supporting Information).…”

“…The Nb‐based nanosheets possess advantages of high photoactivity and easily functionalized 2D structure with large exposure of surface active sites. [ 7 ] On the other hand, the PAM has the ease of processing in regards to polymerization and cross‐linking. [ 8 ] Also, it is relatively low‐cost and solution based mass‐producible, critical towards practical application.…”

Optical Properties of Porous Alumina Assisted Niobia Nanostructured Films–Designing 2-D Photonic Crystals Based on Hexagonally Arranged Nanocolumns

“…Features of electrochemical behavior of valve metals (Al, Nb, Ta, Ti, etc. ), micro and nanodispersed, nanostructured oxides, including porous and tubular anodic oxides and composite materials based on them, are the objects of numerous studies [ 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 ] and review publications [ 11 , 12 , 18 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 ]. Particular interest in such materials is due to the fact that they have a quasi-regular structure, which is formed in the process of production as a result of self-organization processes [ 59 ].…”

Enhancement investigations on dielectric and electrical properties of niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5) reinforced poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)- graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposite films

“…However, the Nb 2 O 5 is an n-type semiconductor with a band gap of about 3.4 eV, low in comparison with other oxide [12]. This niobium pentoxide has several advantageous characteristics including surface area enables for easy modification by intercalation, superficial modification and formation of nanosheets or nanoscrolls [13][14][15]. Moreover, it is also used as promising doping agent for tailoring nanostructured composites materials for potential applicability in the various fields.…”