Synthesis of niobium oxide fibers by electrospinning and characterization of their morphology and optical properties

In this work, nanofiber composites of niobium/polyvinylpyrrolidone (Nb/PVP) were synthesized by electrospinning. Ceramic fibers of Nb2O5 were obtained by heat treatment. The heat treatment carried out at 600 degrees C and at 700 degrees C resulted in the formation of the hexagonal phase of Nb2O5 (TT Nb2O5). The fibers were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), infrared spectrophotometry by Fourier transform (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The average diameter and crystallite size, the specific surface area by BET (Brunnauer, Emmet and Teller method) and the band gap values by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) were also determined. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.