Publication

The Influence of the Ammonolysis Temperature on the Photocatalytic Activity of beta-TaON

Abstract

Phase-pure tantalum oxynitride (beta-TaON) powders were synthesized by thermal ammonolysis of Ta2O5 powders. X-ray diffraction revealed an enlargement of the unit cell and an increase of the crystallite size with increasing ammonolysis temperature. Scanning electron microscopy showed reduced particle sizes for beta-TaON synthesized at 800 and 900 degrees C compared to the precursor oxide. With increasing nitridation temperature the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area was reduced and the nitrogen content increased. UV-Vis spectroscopy showed a bandgap energy of 2.6-2.4 eV. The highest oxygen evolution rate of 220 mu mol.g(-1).h(-1) was achieved for beta-TaON synthesized at 800 degrees C. The factors determining the photocatalytic activity of beta-TaON powders were found to be the specific surface area and defects in the beta-TaON.

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X-ray crystallography
X-ray crystallography is the experimental science determining the atomic and molecular structure of a crystal, in which the crystalline structure causes a beam of incident X-rays to diffract into many specific directions. By measuring the angles and intensities of these diffracted beams, a crystallographer can produce a three-dimensional picture of the density of electrons within the crystal. From this electron density, the mean positions of the atoms in the crystal can be determined, as well as their chemical bonds, their crystallographic disorder, and various other information.
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