New In2O3(ZnO)m photocatalysts with laminal structure for visible light-induced H2 or O2 evolution from aqueous solutions containing sacrificial reagents

In2O3(ZnO)(m) powder with laminal structure like a superlattice showed photocatalytic activities for H-2 evolution from an aqueous methanol solution and O-2 evolution from an aqueous silver nitrate solution under visible light irradiation (lambda>420 nm). Anodic photocurrent was also observed under visible light irradiation (lambda>480 nm) when In2O3(ZnO)(m) sintered electrodes were employed. The band gaps of In2O3(ZnO)(3) and In2O3(ZnO)(9) were 2.6 and 2.7 eV, respectively, which were smaller than those of In2O3 and ZnO of starting materials.