Enhanced photocatalytic performance of NaNbO3 nanorods by loading Al2O3 nanoparticles

Herein, we report the fabrication of UV-active NaNbO 3 /Al 2 O 3 (30 wt.%) ferroelectric heterojunction photocatalyst with enhanced photoelectrochemical activity to Methylene Blue (MB). Pure NaNbO 3 nanorods (NRs) were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal process and NaNbO 3 /Al 2 O 3 composite was prepared by an ultrasonic vibration method. The heterostructures showed a remarkable increase in photocurrent density and the MB degradation ratio reached 88% in the initial 15 min and eventually reached 98.6% in 75 min. The high photocatalytic efficiency is attributed to the ferroelectric polarization of NaNbO 3 with the forming of heterojunction electric fields assisted by Al 2 O 3 . These properties demonstrate that NaNbO 3 /Al 2 O 3 ferroelectric heterojunction photocatalyst shows promising photoactivity and provides an effective method to improve the photocatalytic properties of other ferroelectrics.