Synthesis of niobia nanocrystals with controlled morphology

In this work, TT niobia-phase nanocrystals with controlled morphology were obtained by the hydrothermal treatment of a niobium peroxo complex precursor at very low temperatures. The materials obtained by this route presented a very high surface area (ranging from 79 to 327 m(2)/g), disordered NbO(6), NbO(7), and NbO(8) polyhedra, Nb-O superficial sites, and a superficial OH group, which must have ensured the acidic characteristics of this oxide.