Ion exchangeable layered niobates as a noble series of photocatalysts

Abstract
Some characteristic behaviors of ion-exchangeable layered niobate photocatalysts are described. The main feature of this type of photocatalysts comes from the intercalation of the reactant and the reaction proceeding at the interlayer space. In this point of view, these catalysts are regarded as “two dimensional” photocatalysts. Judging from the wide variety of these families including not only niobates but also other early transition metal oxides such as titanate, and also their unique structures, ion-exchangeable layered oxides will be an interesting subject to be used in the field of photocatalysis.