Tuning the Photocatalytic Activity of Layered Perovskite Niobates by Controlled Ion Exchange and Hydration

Dion-Jacobson type layered perovskite niobium oxides KCa2Nb3O10 and KSr2Nb3O10 were prepared via molten salt method, and the potassium cations were exchanged by protons using nitric acid. Different degrees of proton exchange were adjusted, and the dependence of photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution on proton exchange was investigated. Moreover, proton exchange leads to different amounts of water incorporated into the interlayer spaces, also influencing photocatalytic performance significantly. Decoupling water intercalation and proton exchange, the photocatalytic activity of proton exchanged KCa2Nb3O10 and KSr2Nb3O10 can be revealed and tailored for maximum activity.

Influence of yttrium and niobium oxides modifiers on physicochemical and photocatalytic properties of titanium (IV) oxide

The photocatalytic and physicochemical properties of titanium (IV) oxide modified by yttrium and niobium oxides were studied. It is shown that modification is a powerful way to increase the efficiency of catalysts' photocatalytic properties and improve the photocatalytic process as a whole. Commercial and laboratory-synthesized titanium (IV) oxides were used as catalysts for modification. Modification of titanium (IV) oxide powders in an amount of 1 wt. % by appropriate modifiers was performed by the hydrothermal method, after which they were characterized by diffraction and X-ray fluorescence methods. The structural characteristics of modified and non-modified titanium (IV) oxide samples by the method of low-temperature nitrogen adsorption-desorption have been studied. A slight increase in the specific surface area was found: from 61 m2/g to 70 m2/g for the commercial sample and from 172 m2/g to 180 m2/g for the synthesized one in this work. Similar dependencies are observed when studying the optical properties by the spectrophotometric method. Determination of surface properties (surface acidity) of modified and non-modified photocatalysts based on TiO2 showed different effects of modifiers on TiO2 acidity: in the modification by yttrium oxide, the acidity decreases, and in the case of niobium oxide – increases. Studies of photocatalytic and sorption activities with respect to dyes of different nature are not the same – the photocatalytic activity after modification increases, the sorption capacity with the cationic dye decreases, anionic – increases. Additional studies on dye destruction are in full accordance with photocatalytic and sorption experiments.

Glucose Conversion into 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural over Niobium Oxides Supported on Natural Rubber-Derived Carbon/Silica Nanocomposite

5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is one of the most important lignocellulosic biomass-derived platform molecules for production of renewable fuel additives, liquid hydrocarbon fuels, and value-added chemicals. The present work developed niobium oxides (Nb2O5) supported on mesoporous carbon/silica nanocomposite (MCS), as novel solid base catalyst for synthesis of HMF via one-pot glucose conversion in a biphasic solvent. The MCS material was prepared via carbonization using natural rubber dispersed in hexagonal mesoporous silica (HMS) as a precursor. The Nb2O5 supported on MCS (Nb/MCS) catalyst with an niobium (Nb) loading amount of 10 wt.% (10-Nb/MCS) was characterized by high dispersion, and so tiny crystallites of Nb2O5, on the MCS surface, good textural properties, and the presence of Bronsted and Lewis acid sites with weak-to-medium strength. By varying the Nb loading amount, the crystallite size of Nb2O5 and molar ratio of Bronsted/Lewis acidity could be tuned. When compared to the pure silica HMS-supported Nb catalyst, the Nb/MCS material showed a superior glucose conversion and HMF yield. The highest HMF yield of 57.5% was achieved at 93.2% glucose conversion when using 10-Nb/MCS as catalyst (5 wt.% loading with respect to the mass of glucose) at 190 °C for 1 h. Furthermore, 10-Nb/MCS had excellent catalytic stability, being reused in the reaction for five consecutive cycles during which both the glucose conversion and HMF yield were insignificantly changed. Its superior performance was ascribed to the suitable ratio of Brønsted/Lewis acid sites, and the hydrophobic properties generated from the carbon moieties dispersed in the MCS nanocomposite.