Template free synthesis of crystallized nanoporous F-Ta2O5 spheres for effective photocatalytic hydrogen production

Crystallized and fluorinated nanoporous Ta2O5 spheres were prepared by a combination of co-precipitation and hydrothermal methods in a NH4F-containing water solution. The as-prepared porous spheres, with a pore-size of around 7 nm and a large specific surface area of 132 m2 g−1, show superior photocatalytic hydrogen production activity over P25 and commercial-Ta2O5.