Synthesis of a Hybrid Composed of Anisotropic Niobate Layers Modified with MoC Nanoparticles

The hybrid composed of anisotropic niobate layers modified with MoC nanoparticles is synthesized by multistep reactions. The stepwise interlayer reactions for layered hexaniobate induce selective surface modification at the alternate interlayers, and the following ultrasonication leads to the formation of double-layered nanosheets. The further liquid phase MoC deposition with the double-layered nanosheets leads to the decoration of MoC nanoparticles on the surfaces of the double-layered nanosheets. The new hybrid can be regarded as a stacking of the two layers with anisotropically modified nanoparticles. The relatively high temperature in the MoC synthesis causes partial leaching of the grafted phosphonate groups. The exposed surface of the niobate nanosheets due to the partial leaching may interact with MoC to succeed in the hybridization. The hybrid after heating exhibits photocatalytic activity, indicating that this hybridization method can be useful for hybrid synthesis of semiconductor nanosheets and co-catalyst nanoparticles toward photocatalytic application.