K3ZnB5O10, K2NaZnB5O10, and Na3ZnB5O10 are firstly employed as photocatalytic materials.
The dechlorination efficiency of the broates is 10 times higher than that of P25 TiO2.
The polarization of the materials facilitates the charge separation.
The alkali metal cations play a significant role in the polarizability of the catalysts.
Polarization effect was evidenced by Kelvin probe force microscopy.