Photocatalytic Properties and Electronic Structure of a Novel Series of Solid Photocatalysts, Bi2 RNbO7 (R = Y, Rare Earth)

The observation of photocatalytic properties and the electronic structure of a new series of rare earth photocatalysts, BiRNbO₇ (R = Y, rare earth), are reported for the firstly time. Polycrystalline samples of BiRNbO₇ were synthesized by a solid-state reaction and characterized by XRD and SEM-EDX. H₂ was evolved from pure water under UV irradiation on the BiRNbO₇ photocatalysts. The variation of ion radius r_R³⁺ of R in Bi₂RNbO₇ led to a change in the band structure and photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic activity A_R³⁺ decreased with increasing r_R³⁺.