Self-assembled synthesis of hollow Nb3O7F nanomaterials based on Kirkendall effect and its photocatalytic properties.

Hollow niobium oxide fluoride was successfully synthesised by a facile hydrothermal approach in the hydrofluoric acid/hydrogen peroxide solution without any template. By selecting hydrogen peroxide as oxygen source which could ceaselessly release oxygen gas, niobium diboride could be oxidised and corroded to form niobium oxide fluoride nanomaterials in situ. The hollow structure may result from Kirkendall effect. Significantly, the method may provide a direct route to synthesise some novel oxide nanomaterials using non-oxide ceramic as raw materials. The photodegratation experiments show that niobium oxide fluoride catalysts have better photocatalytic properties than commercial P25 TiO₂ catalysts, indicating that this kind of hierarchical nanomaterials could be a promising candidate as a photodegradation material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]