Photocatalytic property of partially substituted Pt-intercalated layered perovskite, ASr2TaxNb3−xO10 (A=K, H; x=0, 1, 1.5, 2 and 3)

A series of layered perovskite photocatalysts, ASr₂Ta_xNb_3−xO₁₀ (A=K, H; x=0, 1, 1.5, 2 and 3), were synthesized by conventional solid-state reaction followed by an ion-exchange reaction. Pt was incorporated in the interlayer of HSr₂Ta_xNb_3−xO₁₀ by the stepwise intercalation reaction. The HSr₂Ta_xNb_3−xO₁₀ showed hydrogen production activity and the activities were greatly enhanced by Pt co-incorporating. The x value in HSr₂Ta_xNb_3−xO₁₀ had an important effect on the photocatalytic activity of the catalyst. When the x=1, the HSr₂TaNb₂O₁₀/Pt photocatalyst showed a photocatalytic activity of 208 cm³ g⁻¹ h⁻¹ hydrogen evolution rate in 10 vol% methanol solution under irradiation with wavelength more than 290 nm from a 100-W mercury lamp at 333 K. The HSr₂TaNb₂O₁₀/Pt photocatalyst exhibited much higher photocatalytic activity than the well-known TiO₂/Pt photocatalyst under the same conditions.