Synthesis of a Layered Niobium Oxynitride, RbNdNbON·HO, Showing Visible-Light Photocatalytic Activity for H Evolution.

Title Synthesis of a Layered Niobium Oxynitride, RbNdNbON·HO, Showing Visible-Light Photocatalytic Activity for H Evolution.
Authors Wakayama, H.; Hibino, K.; Fujii, K.; Oshima, T.; Yanagisawa, K.; Kobayashi, Y.; Kimoto, K.; Yashima, M.; Maeda, K.
Journal Inorg Chem
DOI 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.9b00414
Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) layered oxynitrides are promising candidates as visible-light-driven photocatalysts, but the actual examples are rare because of the difficulty in synthesizing the 2D oxynitrides. Here a phase-pure layered perovskite, RbNdNbON·HO, that belongs to a tetragonal P4/ mmm space group was successfully synthesized by thermal ammonolysis of a mixture of layered RbNdNbO and RbCO, as revealed by synchrotron X-ray diffraction, elemental analyses, and atomic-scale electron microscopy observation. The synthesized RbNdNbON·HO had an absorption edge at around 500 nm and a sufficiently high conduction-band potential to allow for proton reduction. With modification by a platinum cocatalyst, RbNdNbON·HO became photocatalytically active for H evolution in the presence of triethanolamine as an electron donor under visible light (λ > 400 nm).

Citation Wakayama, H.; Hibino, K.; Fujii, K.; Oshima, T.; Yanagisawa, K.; Kobayashi, Y.; Kimoto, K.; Yashima, M.; Maeda, K..Synthesis of a Layered Niobium Oxynitride, RbNdNbON·HO, Showing Visible-Light Photocatalytic Activity for H Evolution..