PURPOSE: To obtain a novel heterogeneous photocatalyst having low interlaminar electric charge density comparable to that of a clay mineral in spite of an oxide having a layer structure and producing at least one of hydrogen and oxygen by the photolysis of water.
CONSTITUTION: An oxide represented by the general formula, A1-xBxC2-xD3O10 [where A is one or more kinds of elements selected from among alkali metals and H, B is one or more kinds of rare earth elements, C is one or more kinds of alkaline earth metals, D is one or more kinds of elements select.ed from among Ti, Nb and Ta and (x) is an arbitrary number of >0 to <1] is used to obtain the objective photocatalyst having a layer structure and low interlaminar electric charge density and producing at least one of hydrogen and oxygen by the photolysis of water.
SHINOHARA KIYOAKI
DOUMEN KAZUNARI