Oxygen-Vacancy-Rich Ultrathin Nb2o5 Nanosheets for Efficient Photocatalytic Molecular Oxygen Activation

Abstract

A novel ultrathin Nb2O5 nanosheet (3.6 nm) was synthesized, demonstrating a photocatalytic molecular oxygen (O2) activation efficiency 18.2 times higher than that of conventional Nb2O5 nanoplates (19.4 nm). Both experimental and theoretical analyses revealed that the ultrathin nanosheet structure not only provides a larger specific surface area but also facilitates oxygen vacancy generation. These synergistic effects significantly improved light harvesting, charge carrier separation, and surface O2 activation kinetics.

Keywords: Ultrathin Nb2O5 nanosheets, O vacancy, Photocatalysis, O2 activation