K8Ce2I18O53: a novel potassium cerium(IV) iodate with enhanced visible light driven photocatalytic activity resulting from polar zero dimensional [ Ce(IO3)8] 4-units

Hydrothermally grown iodate, K8Ce2I18O53, featuring polar 0D [Ce(IO3)(8)] (4-) units, has shown the highest visible light driven (VLD) photocatalytic activity in metal iodates reported before. The enhanced VLD photocatalytic property results from a synergistic effect between the narrow band gap and polar 0D [Ce(IO3)(8)](4-)units, as confirmed using first principles calculations.