Preparation of Visible Light-driven Photocatalyst K₄Ce₂Nb₁₀O₃₀ by Polymerizable Complex Process and Its Photocatalytical Activity for Water Decomposition

Visible light-driven photocatalyst K4Ce2Nb10O30 was prepared by polymerizable complex (PC) process using dissolvable niobium oxalate as precursor. Characterizations of XRD, BET, SEM and UV-Vis showed that the sample prepared from PC process presented smaller particles (20−50 nm) and higher specific surface areas than the sample from conventional high temperature solid state reaction (SSR) method. As for their photocatalytical activi- ties for water decomposition under visible light irradiation (λ > 400 nm), the sample prepared by PC method showed higher H2 evolution activities than that of sample prepared by SSR as a result of the higher surface areas and finer crystal particles of sample prepared by PC. Moreover, the sample prepared by PC methods realized the overall pure water splitting under λ > 300 nm irradiation condition.