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Enhancement of visible light photocatalytic activity of tantalum oxynitride and tantalum nitride by coupling with bismuth oxide; an example of composite photocatalysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2015

Shiba P Adhikari ,
Lifeng Zhang ,
Michael Gross  and
Abdou Lachgar
Shiba P Adhikari
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109 Center for Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Wake Forest University, NC 27109
Lifeng Zhang
Affiliation:
Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, North Carolina A&T State University, 2907 East Lee Street, Greensboro, NC 27401
Michael Gross
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109 Center for Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Wake Forest University, NC 27109
Abdou Lachgar
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109 Center for Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Wake Forest University, NC 27109
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Abstract

Composite photocatalysts comprised of two semiconducting oxides, with suitable band gaps and band positions, have been reported as an effective approach to enhance photocatalytic activity in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Here, we report the synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic evaluations of semiconducting composites made by combing bismuth oxide with either tantalum oxynitride or tantalum nitride. Visible light active composites were synthesized using solution chemistry synthesis method. The composites were characterized by powder X- ray diffraction (PXRD), diffuse reflectance UV-Vis spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL). Their photocatalytic activities were evaluated for generation of hydrogen from an aqueous methanol solution under visible light irradiation (λ≥ 420 nm). The as-prepared composite catalysts are found to have longer photogenerated charge-carrier life time, resulting in enhanced photocatalytic activities.

Keywords

oxidecompositesemiconducting
Type
Articles
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1738: Symposium V – Sustainable Solar-Energy Conversion Using Earth-Abundant Materials , 2015 , mrsf14-1738-v05-52
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2015 

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