Tantalum Oxide Nanoparticles Prepared From Imidazolium Ionic Liquids As Active Hybrid Materials For Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation Of Dyes

Tantalum oxide nanoparticles prepared from the hydrolysis of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium hexachlorotantalate ionic liquids showed an unprecedented efficiency for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and methyl orange dyes in aqueous solutions. Indeed, the photodegradation of these aqueous dyes (up to 94 %) promoted by the Ta2O5 nanoparticles occurred in shorter reaction times when compared to commercially available Ta2O5 under the same reaction conditions. Moreover, the presence of residual ionic liquid and the pH of the medium seem to play significant roles in the photodegradation process. In particular, a significant synergistic effect occurred when the remaining ionic liquid and HCl are present at the surface of the hybrid nanoparticles. This effect provided favorable hydrophilic regions and pH conditions for the photodegradation of the dyes.