Organic-inorganic hybrid material synthesized by porphyrin intercalation into a layered niobate host matrix

Nanostructured materials obtained by intercalation of porphyrins and metalloporphyrins into two-dimensional inorganic matrices were investigated to explore the photoprocesses and catalytic reactions in restricted media. Owing to the semiconducting character of layered niobates, some oxide derivatives have been used to achieve the water-splitting to H2 production by photocatalysis. A derivative of the layered niobate KNb3O8 was used as a host matrix to form a hybrid material through the 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(1-methyl-4-pyridyl)-21 H,23H-porphyrin intercalation. This intercalation produces an expanded material containing the free base organized in the interlayer region in a tilt orientation in relation to the sheets.