UV Photocatalytic Activity for Water Decomposition of SrxBa1-xNb2O6 Nanocrystals with Different Components and Morphologies

Abstract

Strontium barium niobate SrxBa1-xNb2O6 (SBN) nanocrystals with different components (x=0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8) were synthesized by Molten Salt Synthesis (MSS) method at various reaction temperatures (T = 950°C, 1000°C, 1050°C, and 1100°C). The SBN nanocrystals yielded through flux reactions possess different morphologies and sizes with a length of about 100 nm7 μm and a diameter of about 200500 nm. The Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) techniques were used to study the compositions, structures, and morphologies of the nanocrystals. The absorption edges of the SBN nanocrystals are at a wavelength region of approximate 390 nm, which corresponds to band-gap energy of 3.18 eV. The SBN nanocrystals with different sizes display different photocatalytic activity under ultraviolet light in decomposition of water. The SBN60 nanocrystals exhibit stable photocatalytic rates (100130 μmol of H2·g-1·h-1) for hydrogen production. The SBN nanocrystals can be a potential material in the application of photocatalysis and micro/nanooptical devices.