One-Step Plasma Synthesis of Nb2 O5 Nanofibers and their Enhanced Photocatalytic activity.

Fiberform nanostructured niobium (Nb) was fabricated by one step helium (He) plasma irradiation. He ion implantation formed He nano-bubbles on a Nb plate and led to formation of protrusions while migrating in Nb matrix; fiberform nanostructures (FN) were grown when the fluence became high (>1026  m-2 ). The necessary conditions for the formation of Nb FN were revealed to be the surface temperature range of 900-1100 K and the incident ion energy higher than 70 eV. The sample was oxidized at 573-773 K in an air atmosphere, and Pt nanoparticles were photo-deposited on the Nb2 O5 samples. The surface was analyzed by scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry. Photocatalytic activity of the fabricated materials was studied using methylene blue (MB) decolorization process. An enhanced photocatalytic performance was identified on FN Nb2 O5 substrate with Pt deposition.