A novel hydrogen-evolving photocatalyst InVO4 active under visible light irradiation

InVO4, with band gap of about 2.0 eV, was found to be a new visible light responding photocatalyst for water decomposition. The photocatalyst showed activity to visible light in a wide wavelength range up to 600 nm. Although the native photocatalyst could evolve H-2 from pure water under visible light irradiation (lambda > 420 nm), the photocatalytic activity increases significantly by loading NiO as a co-catalyst. Correlation of the photocatalytic properties with crystal and electronic structure of the compound is discussed in connection with the recently reported 4d and 5d transition metal photocatalysts lnNbO(4) and InTaO4. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.