Large-scale synthesis of single-crystalline KNb3O8 nanobelts via a simple molten salt method

Single-crystalline potassium triniobate (KNb3O8) nanobelts with widths of 50 to several hundreds nanometers and length up to tens of microns were synthesized in a large-scale by a facile molten salt synthesis method. The phase of the as-prepared nanobelts was determined by X-ray diffraction, and the morphology and structure were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and selected area electron diffraction. The band gap of KNb3O8 nanobelts was estimated to be about 3.45 eV from the onset of UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectrum. The obtained KNb3O8 nanobelts exhibited high photocatalytic efficiency for the degradation of methyl orange under UV irradiation. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.