Composition dependence of the photophysical and photocatalytic properties of (AgNbO3)1−x(NaNbO3)x solid solutions

A series of orthorhombic photocatalysts (AgNbO3)1−x(NaNbO3)x solid solutions have been synthesized by a solid-state reaction method. The composition dependence of the photophysical and photocatalytic properties of synthesized solid solutions has been investigated systematically. With an increase in the content of NaNbO3, we found that (1) the lattice parameters decreased; (2) the Nb–O bond length in NbO6 octahedron reduced; (3) the band gap increased; and (4) the mean particle size decreased while the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area increased. Photocatalytic activities of the (AgNbO3)1−x(NaNbO3)x (0⩽x⩽0.5) samples were evaluated from gaseous 2-propanol (IPA) decomposition into acetone and CO2 under visible-light irradiation emitted from blue-light-emitting diodes (BLEDs; light intensity: 0.01 mW cm−2). Among all the samples, the (AgNbO3)0.6(NaNbO3)0.4 sample showed the highest photocatalytic activity.

Graphical abstractA series of orthorhombic photocatalysts (AgNbO3)1−x(NaNbO3)x solid solutions have been synthesized by a solid-state reaction method. The composition dependence of the photophysical and photocatalytic properties of synthesized solid solutions has been investigated systematically. The solid solutions show higher visible-light photocatalytic activities for gaseous IPA decomposition in comparison with AgNbO3, although the light intensity is 0.01 mW cm−2. Rate of acetone evolution under visible-light irradiation as a function of NaNbO3 content in (AgNbO3)1−x(NaNbO3)x. The inset is the spectrum of BLEDs. The light intensity is 0.01 mW cm−2.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide