Photocatalytic activities for hydrogen evolution of new layered compound series HLaTax/3Nb2−x/3O7/Pt (x = 0, 2, 3, 4, and 6)

HLaTax/3Nb2−x/3O7 were synthesized by successive reactions of conventional solid-state reaction followed by ion exchange reaction. They were characterized by power X-ray diffraction, UV-vis diffusive reflectance and scan electron microscope. The effect of substitution of Ta for Nb in HLaNb2O7 has been studied on the photocatalytic decomposition of water under UV light irradiation with methanol as electron donor and Pt as promoter catalyst. The x value in HLaTax/3Nb2−x/3O7 had an important effect on the photocatalytic activity of the catalyst. When x = 2, HLaTa2/3Nb4/3O7/Pt shows a photocatalytic activity of 136 cm3 g−1 h−1 hydrogen evolution in rate 10 vol.% methanol aqueous solution under irradiation with wavelength more than 290 nm from a 100-W mercury lamp.