An efficient visible light active NaNb1-xRuxO3 perovskite was hydrothermally fabricated and characterized. Various amounts of ruthenium substitution (0-5%) for Nb5+ in the niobate framework caused structural evolution from nanocubes to nanowires. 1% Ru-doped niobates [NR(1)], which had a highly crystalline orthorhombic structure, adsorbed visible light most substantially with an optical band gap of similar to 2.3 eV. With the aid of H-1 MAS NMR examination, the addition of protons into the niobate by acid treatment was convinced and its projected structure of [RuO6] plus [NbO6] octahedra with some defects was proposed. NR(1) itself was not effective at carrying out photocatalytic decomposition of phenol in water. To enhance visible light driven charge separation, platinum was dispersed onto NR( 1) using surface capped Pt nanoparticles (PtNP) and Pt complexes (e.g., [Pt(NH3)(4)]Cl-2). PtNPs laden NR( 1) exhibited superior photocatalytic degradation of phenol in water. This increased photocatalytic activity was attributable to synergistic effects of facilitated electron transfer by PtNPs. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.