Direct deposition of trivalent rhodium hydroxide nanoparticles onto a semiconducting layered calcium niobate for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Well-dispersed Rh(OH)3 nanoparticles were deposited in the interlayer galleries of a Dion - Jacobson type layered perovskite (ACa(2)Nb(3)O(10): A = H or K). X-ray photoelectron spectra and potential measurements suggest covalent bonding (Rh - O - Nb) between the nanoparticles and the niobate sheets. After calcination of Rh(OH)(3)/KCa2Nb3O10 at 350 degrees C in air, interlayer Rh(OH)(3) nanoparticles were transformed to Rh2O3 and showed higher photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution using methanol as a sacrificial electron donor.