A novel synthesis for the preparation of LiNbO3 powder with high piezoelectric catalytic performance

The traditional method for producing lithium niobate (LiNbO3) powder is based primarily on a solid-state reaction, which has a high energy consumption and low efficiency, requiring long periods of insulation at a high temperature of 1000-1300 degrees C. In this work, high-purity and high-crystallinity LiNbO3 powder was prepared by using niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5) and lithium fluoride (LiF) at 800 degrees C for 0.5 h. Interestingly, the prepared LiNbO3 powder demonstrated exceptional piezoelectric catalytic degradation performance and reusability. Under the influence of ultrasonic waves, the LiNbO3 powder achieved complete degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) within a remarkably short duration of 20 min, with a reaction rate constant of 0.2702 min  1, which was 7.9 times larger than that of commercial LiNbO3 (0.03416 min  1). Furthermore, even after undergoing six degradation cycles, the powder maintained its high degradation efficiency. Active substance trapping and detection experiments revealed the presence of hydroxyl radicals (center dot OH) and superoxide radicals (center dot O2  ) with potent oxidizing capabilities during the piezoelectric catalysis process, affirming their pivotal roles in the degradation of RhB. The energy-saving and efficient method employed in acquiring LiNbO3 would provide an exciting pathway towards the development of efficient catalysts for organic wastewater treatment, fueled by clean energy sources.