Controllable nitridation of Ta<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> in molten salts for enhanced photocatalysis

Jing Zhou; Dan-dan Nie; Xian-bo Jin; Wei Xiao

doi:10.1007/s12613-020-2050-z

Volume 27 Issue 12

Dec. 2020

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Article Navigation > International Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials > 2020 > 27(12): 1703-1710

Jing Zhou, Dan-dan Nie, Xian-bo Jin, and Wei Xiao, Controllable nitridation of Ta₂O₅ in molten salts for enhanced photocatalysis, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 27(2020), No. 12, pp. 1703-1710. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-020-2050-z

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Jing Zhou, Dan-dan Nie, Xian-bo Jin, and Wei Xiao, Controllable nitridation of Ta2O5 in molten salts for enhanced photocatalysis, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 27(2020), No. 12, pp. 1703-1710. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-020-2050-z

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Research Article

Controllable nitridation of Ta₂O₅ in molten salts for enhanced photocatalysis

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Corresponding author:
Wei Xiao E-mail: 00030042@whu.edu.cn
Received: 27 February 2020; Revised: 20 March 2020; Accepted: 24 March 2020; Available online: 26 March 2020

Abstract

Abstract

Pyrolysis of the Ta₂O₅/melamine mixture in molten chlorides is herein demonstrated as a facile and controllable method to nitridize and functionalize Ta₂O₅. The influence of the stoichiometry and composition of Ta₂O₅/melamine in molten salts on the nitridation process is rationalized to ensure the controllable preparation of Ta₃N₅ and Ta₃N₅/TaON. The characterization results, including scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, elemental mapping, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy, all confirm the existence of the Ta₃N₅/TaON heterojunction, in which the TaON nanoparticles are closely anchored to the Ta₃N₅ nanorods. Benefiting from its composition and structure, the Ta₃N₅/TaON composites show enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue. The present study highlights that the molten salt method using a solid nitrogen source can be a new technique for rationalizing the design of nitrides and oxynitrides.
- molten salts;
- photocatalysis;
- Ta₃N₅;
- TaON;
- heterojunction

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