Lithium niobate nanowires for photocatalytic water splitting

Molecule-based preparation of lithium niobate nanowires was achieved by proper combination of a niobium oxooxalate complex, a structure-directing reagent, and a lithium source. Structural and photophysical properties of the nanowires obtained were characterized by several microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. The nanowire was employed as a photocatalyst for overall water splitting, and H or O evolution reaction from an aqueous solution containing a sacrificial reagent under UV light irradiation to show enhanced photocatalytic properties as compared with a bulky counterpart prepared by a solid state reaction. The factors contributing to the enhancement of the photocatalytic performance were suggested to be an increase in active sites for the photocatalytic reaction in conjunction with a large surface area and a small particle size. © 2011 The Royal Society of Chemistry.