A series of layered perovskite photocatalysts, ASr(2)Ta(x)Nb(3-x)O(10) (A=K, H; x=0, 1, 1.5, 2 and 3), were synthesized by conventional solid-state reaction followed by an ion-exchange reaction. Pt was incorporated in the interlayer of HSr2TaxNb3-xO10 by the stepwise intercalation reaction. The HSr2TaxNb3-xO10 showed hydrogen production activity and the activities were greatly enhanced by Pt co-incorporating. The x value in HSr2TaxNb3-xO10 had an important effect on the photocatalytic activity of the catalyst. When the x=1, the HSr2TaNb2O10/Pt photocatalyst showed a photocatalytic activity of 208 cm(3) g(-1) h(1) hydrogen evolution rate in 10 vol% methanol solution under irradiation with wavelength more than 290 nm from a 100-W mercury lamp at 333 K. The HSr2TaNb2O10/Pt photocatalyst exhibited much higher photocatalytic activity than the well-known TiO2/Pt photocatalyst under the same conditions. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.