The visible light-driven photocatalyst SnNb2O6 was synthesized by reacting Sr2Nb2O7 with molten SnCl2, at 573 K. SEM observations revealed that the SnNb2O6 sample had a surface area of 56 m(2) g(-1), with particles having a nanoplate shape, a thickness of ca. 10 nm and widths of several hundred nm. A Pt-loaded SnNb2O6 nanoplate sample showed photocatalytic activity for H? evolution from an aqueous methanol solution under visible light irradiation.