Highly efficient pyrocatalysis of pyroelectric NaNbO3 shape-controllable nanoparticles for room-temperature dye decomposition.

In this work, pyrocatalytic effect is realized in hydrothermally-synthesized pyroelectric NaNbO3 shape-controllable nanoparticles via the product of pyroelectric effect and electrochemical redox. A pyro-catalysis is designed to decompose dye wastewater. Under the 23-50 °C heating-cooling cycle, the maximum pyrocatalytic decomposition ratio of NaNbO3 nanorods, nanosheets and nanocubes are 96%, 76% and 33%, respectively. The pyrocatalytic effect of NaNbO3 nanoparticles is potential in developing a environmentally-friendly technology for room-temperature pyrocatalysis through utilizing natural heat energy.