• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.330-335
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• 2014

Niobium pentoxide ($Nb_2O_5$) nanoparticles were synthesized using niobium (V) chloride and pluronic F108NF as the precursor and templating agent, respectively. The $Nb_2O_5$-graphene nanocomposites were placed in an electric furnace at $700^{\circ}C$ and calcined under Ar atmosphere for 2 h. The morphology, crystallinity, and photocatalytic degradation activity of the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and UV-vis spectroscopy. The $Nb_2O_5$-graphene nanocomposites acted as a photocatalyst in the photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes under 254 nm UV light; the organic dyes used were methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO), rhodamine B (RhB), and brilliant green (BG). The photocatalytic degradation kinetics for the aforesaid dyes were determined in the presence of the $Nb_2O_5$-graphene nanocomposites.