Co-precipitation preparation and photocatalytic performances of BiNb5O14/ Nb2O5 heterojunction

In the present study, BiNb5O14 and BiNb5O14/Nb2O5 heterojunction were prepared with co-precipitation synthesis. The crystal structure was studied via XRD patterns and Rietveld refinements, which has a typical tetragonal tungsten bronze (TTB)-type structure. The samples crystallized in micorods with a length of 1-4 mu m and a diameter about 1 mu m. As an indirect transition semiconductor, BiNb5O14 has a band energy of 2.81 eV with the valence-band formed by hybridized O-2p and Bi-6s, and the conduction band formed by Nb(6d) orbitals. The photocatalysis abilities of BiNb5O14 and BiNb5O14/Nb2O5 heterojunctions were evaluated via the photo-degradation of dye solutions. The photocatalytic activities were significantly improved via coupling BiNb5O14 with Nb2O5. In the photocatalysis reactions, (OH)-O-center dot was the main reactive species, and the immigration rate of light-created charge-carriers was greatly improved via the heterojunction structure. The luminescence and decay lifetime were measured to discuss the photocatalysis mechanism.