Niobate-based perovskites: Characterization, preparation, and photocatalytic properties

Perovskite oxides have been extensively used as photocatalyst for several chemical reactions. This class of compounds exhibits the general formula ABO3, where, generally, the A site is occupied by a large cation, and the B site is occupied by a smaller cation. The attractiveness of these materials is related to its enormous compositional and structural variety, which allows the production of catalysts with unique physical-chemical properties. Niobates perovskites is a subclass of perovskite oxides in which the B-site is occupied by Nb5 + species. The structural and chemical properties of these materials have been studied for 50 years; however, its application in photocatalytic processes is very recent and still understudied. This chapter reviews the properties of the reported niobate perovskites applied in photocatalysis and gives a perspective of future developments of this class of materials.