Narrow-bandgap Nb2O5 nanowires with enclosed pores as high-performance photocatalyst

Porous niobium oxide nanowires synthesized via a solvothermal method exhibited decreased bandgap, enhanced light absorption and reduced charge-recombination rate. The porous Nb2O5 nanowires showed increased performance for the photocatalytic H2 evolution and photodegradation of rhodamine B, as compared to their solid counterparts, which could be ascribed to the peculiar porous nanostructure.