Template-free synthesis of Ta3N5 hollow nanospheres as a visible-light-driven photocatalyst

Abstract Ultrathin mesoporous Ta 3 N 5 hollow nanospheres were synthesized via a facile and orchestrated template-free solution-based synthesis followed by thermal nitridation. A systematic investigation of structural evolution with annealing revealed a progressive crystallization with concurrent development of mesoporosity and modification of chemical composition with nitridation time. Subsequent performance of as-prepared photocatalysts were evaluated by the degradation of methylene blue under visible light irradiation ( λ > 400 nm). Ta 3 N 5 hollow nanospheres exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than Ta 3 N 5 nanorods or bulk Ta 3 N 5 , which can be attributed to their engineered structure as well as the oxygen and nitrogen content.