Molten Salt Treatment of Sodium Niobate Nanowires Affording Valence Band-Controlled (AgNbO3)-(NaNbO3) Nanowires

Valence band controlled silver niobate-sodium niobate nanowires [(AgNbO3)-(NaNbO3)NW] were synthesized by molten salt treatment of sodium niobate nanowires (NaNbO3-NW). Characterization of the nanowires using diffuse reflection, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies, and transmission electron microscopy suggested composite structures consisting of a sodium niobate core and a silver niobate shell. (AgNbO3)-(NaNbO3)NW showed photocatalytic activities for H-2 and O-2 evolution from an aqueous solution containing sacrificial reagents under incident light having wavelength longer than 400 nm.