Hydrothermal preparation of Nb⁵⁺-doped -Fe₂O₃ nanorods for efficient visible light-driven photocatalytic reduction of hexavalent chromium

Nb5+ doped alpha-Fe2O3 (Nb-Fe2O3) nanorods with different Nb5+ contents were prepared using a low-temperature, short-time, one-pot hydrothermal method. All the prepared Nb-Fe2O3 products showed better photocatalytic activities than alpha-Fe2O3 nanorods in the reduction of aqueous Cr(VI) under visible light (wavelength > 420 nm). 4% Nb-Fe2O3 had the maximum photocatalytic activity, which was 2.24 times that of alpha-Fe2O3 nanorods and surpassed those of many newly reported visible light photocatalysts. Moreover, the photocatalytic efficiency of 4% Nb-Fe2O3 can be further improved by proper increasing its dosage, decreasing the initial pH and Cr(VI) concentration of K2Cr2O7 solution. Furthermore, 4% Nb-Fe2O3 showed rather good photocatalytic stability and reusability. Besides, 4% Nb-Fe2O3 was efficient in visible light-driven photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) in diluted black chrome plating solution. Nb5+-doping can efficaciously enhance the abilities of alpha-Fe2O3 in absorbing visible light and transferring and separating photogenerated carriers, thereby contributing to the elevated photocatalytic activity of Nb-Fe2O3.