NbO-Based Photocatalysts.

Photocatalysis is one potential solution to the energy and environmental crisis and greatly relies on the development of the catalysts. Niobium pentoxide (NbO), a typically nontoxic metal oxide, is eco-friendly and exhibits strong oxidation ability, and has attracted considerable attention from researchers. Furthermore, unique Lewis acid sites (LASs) and Brønsted acid sites (BASs) are observed on NbO prepared by different methods. Herein, the recent advances in the synthesis and application of NbO-based photocatalysts, including the pure NbO, doped NbO, metal species supported on NbO, and other composited NbO catalysts, are summarized. An overview is provided for the role of size and crystalline phase, unsaturated Nb sites and oxygen vacancies, LASs and BASs, dopants and surface metal species, and heterojunction structure on the NbO-based catalysts in photocatalysis. Finally, the challenges are also presented, which are possibly overcome by integrating the synthetic methodology, developing novel photoelectric characterization techniques, and a profound understanding of the local structure of NbO.