Preparation of 1D ultrathin niobate nanobelts by liquid exfoliation as photocatalysts for hydrogen generation

Abstract

One-dimensional (1D) ultrathin nanobelts of protonated niobate H_xRb_1−xNbO₃ (HRNO) were prepared through sonication-assisted liquid exfoliation from the parent material RbNbO₃ (RNO) in water. The exfoliating mechanism from RNO to the ultrathin HRNO nanobelts was discussed, which would be related to Rb⁺ hydration and (NbO₃)_nⁿ⁻ hydrolysis. The ultrathin HRNO nanobelts have thicknesses less than 10 nm, and show high photocatalytic activity for hydrogen generation.