Preparation of a colloidal array of NaTaO3 nanoparticles via a confined space synthesis route and its photocatalytic application

The confined space synthesis method has been applied to the preparation of sodium tantalate (NaTaO3); hydrothermal reaction of NaOH and Ta2O5 was carried out in the pores of a three-dimensional mesoporous carbon, which was replicated by the colloidal array of silica nanospheres (SNSs) 20 nm in size. This approach led to the formation of a colloidal array of NaTaO3 nanoparticles 20 nm in size with a surface area of 34 m(2) g(-1). The photocatalytic performance of the colloidal array of NaTaO3 nanoparticles for overall water splitting under UV irradiation (lambda > 200 nm) was evaluated after loading a NiO cocatalyst onto NaTaO3 samples. The NiO-loaded NaTaO3 nanoparticles showed photocatalytic activity for overall water splitting more than three times as high as non-structured bulk NaTaO3 particles.