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Nano sized defect pyrochlore, KAl0.33W1.67O6 (KAW), is prepared through sol-gel method. Divalent tin-doped KAW is obtained at room temperature by ion exchange method using acidified SnCl2 and parent KAW. These materials are characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectra (SEM-EDS), Raman Spectroscopy and X-ray photo electronic spectroscopy. The composition of tin-doped KAW is obtained from chemical analysis, SEM-EDS and TGA methods and written as Sn0.5Al0.33W1.67O6xH2O (x = 1.4-1.5) (SnAW). It crystallizes in cubic lattice with Fd3¯m space group. The band gap energies are found to be 2.82 and 2.21 eV for KAW and SnAW respectively. The observed reduction in the band gap with the introduction of Sn(2+) in defect pyrochlore lattice is due to mixing of 5s state of Sn(2+) with O 2p states leading to an upward shift in the valence band. The Raman spectra of these materials gave more bands than the number expected for defect pyrochlores due to substitutional disorder in 16c sites and displacive disorder of A ions. The photoactivity of SnAW is higher compared to KAW.

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Photocatalytic technology utilizing abundant solar light holds great promise to tackle many challenging environmental and energy issues. In recent years, various types of photocatalysts have been developed that are active for environmental purification and hydrogen production. Papers reporting preparation, characterization and photocatalytic testing of binary, ternary and quaternary compounds have been reviewed. The present review focuses on photocatalyst materials which adopt a defect pyrochlore structure. Starting with a brief introduction to semiconductor-based photocatalysts for environmental clean-up and hydrogen generation from water splitting, the development of high-efficiency UV and visible light driven photocatalysts belonging to the defect pyrochlore family is reviewed. The review covers all the defect pyrochlore photocatalysts studied so far, and provides guidance to researchers in this area for further investigation of these materials.