Photocatalyst exhibiting catalytic activity even in visible light region

摘要

The photocatalyst according to the present invention which exhibits a high catalytic function in the visible-light range comprises an oxide composite having a junction formed by oxide semiconductors (I) and (II) which have photocatalytic properties with each other and whose energy levels of electrons at the bottom of the conduction band and energy levels of electrons at the top of the valence band in an energy band structure, based on the vacuum levels, differ from each other; at least one of the oxide semiconductors having photocatalytic properties even in the visible-light range. The oxide semiconductor (I) having photocatalytic properties even in the visible-light range is exemplified by a pyrochlore-related structural oxide Ce2Zr2O8.0, and the oxide semiconductor (II) by an anatase-type titanium oxide.