Preparation and Application of Nb2O5 Nanofibers in CO2 Photoconversion.

Increasing global warming due to NOx, CO2, and CH4, is significantly harming ecosystems and life worldwide. One promising methodology is converting pollutants into valuable chemicals via photocatalytic processes (by reusable photocatalysts). In this context, the present work aimed to produce a Nb2O5 photocatalyst nanofiber system by electrospinning to convert CO2. Based on the collected data, the calcination at 600 ∘C for 2 h resulted in the best condition to obtain nanofibers with homogeneous surfaces and an average diameter of 84 nm. As a result, the Nb2O5 nanofibers converted CO2 mostly into CO and CH4, reaching values around 8.5 µmol g-1 and 0.55 µmol g-1, respectively.

Synthesis of (Ca,Nd)TiO3 powders by complex polymerization, Rietveld refinement and optical properties.

Neodymium calcium titanate, (Ca(0.99)Nd(0.01))TiO(3) powders were synthesized by the complex polymerization method and heat treated at different temperatures for 2 h under air atmosphere. The structural evolution of these powders as a function of heat treatment temperature was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and micro-Raman (MR) spectroscopy. The optical properties were investigated by Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy and Photoluminescence (PL) measurements. XRD patterns, Rietveld refinement and MR spectra indicated that the powders heated treated at 750 degrees C for 2 h present an orthorhombic structure without secondary phases. UV-vis measurements suggested the presence of intermediary energy in disordered (Ca(0.99)Nd(0.01))TiO(3) powders. Broad and narrow bands were observed in the PL spectra of these powders when excited with 350 nm wavelength. The broad bands were associated to the structural defects and/or p-d electronic transitions while, the narrow bands were ascribed to f-f transitions arising from Nd(3+) ions.

Synthesis, growth process and photoluminescence properties of SrWO4 powders.

SrWO(4) powders were synthesized by the co-precipitation method and processed in a microwave-hydrothermal (MH) at 140 degrees C for different times. The obtained powders were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), micro-Raman (MR) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, field-emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. XRD patterns and MR spectra showed that the SrWO(4) powders present a scheelite-type tetragonal structure without the presence of deleterious phases. FT-IR spectra exhibited a high absorption band situated at 831.57 cm(-1), which was ascribed to the WO antisymmetric stretching vibrations into the [WO(4)] tetrahedron groups. FEG-SEM micrographs suggested that the processing time is able to influence in the growth process and morphology of SrWO(4) powders. UV-vis absorption spectra revealed different optical band gap values for these powders. A green PL emission at room temperature was verified in SrWO(4) powders when excited with 488 nm wavelength.