Single-Pot Synthesis of ⟨001⟩-Faceted N‑Doped Nb₂O₅/Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite for Efficient Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

Due to exciting catalytic activity and selectivity, tailoring of nanocatalysts consisting of preferred crystal facets and desired structural properties remains at the forefront of materials engineering. A facile one-step nonhydrolytic solvothermal synthesis of a nanocomposite of reduced graphene oxide and one-dimensional nitrogen-doped Nb₂O₅ (N-NbO<i>x</i>) with exposed ⟨001⟩ facet is described. Triethylamine performed the dual role as nitrogen source and capping agent to control the size and unidirectional growth of Nb₂O₅ nanocrystallites. The nanocomposite showed efficient visible-light-mediated (λ > 420 nm) water splitting in a photoelectrochemical cell. A plausible mechanism for the formation of N-NbO<i>x</i> nanorods and improved photoelectrochemical efficacy in terms of their oriented growth is proposed