Mechanochemical Defect Engineering of Nb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>: Influence of LiBH<sub>4</sub> and NaBH<sub>4</sub> Reduction on Structure and Photocatalysis
Partial reduction of transition metal oxides via defect engineering is a promising strategy to enhance their electronic and photocatalytic properties. In this study, we systematically explored the mechanochemical reduction of Nb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> using LiBH<sub>4...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Solids |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6497/6/2/26 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | Partial reduction of transition metal oxides via defect engineering is a promising strategy to enhance their electronic and photocatalytic properties. In this study, we systematically explored the mechanochemical reduction of Nb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> using LiBH<sub>4</sub> and NaBH<sub>4</sub> as reducing agents. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy confirmed a successful partial reduction of the oxide, as seen by the presence of unpaired electrons. Interestingly, larger hydride concentrations did not necessarily enable a higher degree of reduction as large amounts of boron hydrides acted as a buffer material and thus hindered the effective transfer of mechanical energy. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and <sup>7</sup>Li solid-state NMR spectroscopy indicated the intercalation of Li<sup>+</sup> into the Nb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> lattice. Raman spectroscopy further revealed the increased structural disorder, while optical measurements showed a decreased band gap compared with pristine Nb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>. The partially reduced samples showed significantly enhanced photocatalytic performance for methylene blue degradation relative to the unmodified oxides. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2673-6497 |