Hierarchical nanostructures of fluorinated and naked Ta2O5 single crystalline nanorods: hydrothermal preparation, formation mechanism and photocatalytic activity for H2 production

Abstract

The hydrolysis of H₂TaF₇ when it slowly forms via etching Ta powders with HF and H₂O₂ under hydrothermal conditions produces hierarchical nanostructures of fluorinated and naked Ta₂O₅ single-crystalline nanorods, which exhibit a far greater photocatalytic activity for H₂ production than commercial Ta₂O₅ particles.