Determination of Schottky barrier height and enhanced photoelectron generation in novel plasmonic immobilized multisegmented (Au/TiO₂) nanorod arrays (NRAs) suitable for solar energy conversion applications

Abstract

We have determined the Schottky barrier height (0.23 eV) and efficient photoelectron generation in novel multisegmented Au/TiO2 nanorod arrays.

Spin-Orbit Coupling Effects in Au 4f Core-Level Electronic Structures in Supported Low-Dimensional Gold Nanoparticles

“…In this regard, researchers have demonstrated the vast utility of X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) in characterizing nanostructured materials, which can bring information from a depth similar to the sizes of the nanoparticles in a nondestructive manner. XPS has been extensively used to understand charge transfer to/from the nanoparticle/support [ 22 ], metal–support interaction [ 22 ], formation and measurement of Schottky barrier height [ 23 ], energy-band alignments [ 24 ], coordination number imperfection in the nanoparticle surface atoms, and catalytically active sites [ 25 , 26 ]. Besides, XPS has been used to investigate electronic, structural, and chemical changes and unravel active phases responsible for organic reaction transformations in many catalyst systems [ 27 , 28 , 29 ].…”

The Importance of Schottky Barrier Height in Plasmonically Enhanced Hot‐Electron Devices

“…By combining UPS and IPES measurements to investigate the electronic properties of TiO 2 and Au, the alignment of the energy bands at the interfaces between TiO 2 and Au can be derived. [ 16,31,32 ] Samples of ALD‐deposited TiO 2 at different temperatures, pristine Au and pristine NiO were all fabricated at a sufficient thickness (>30 nm) to cover the probing depth of the scope.…”

“…[ 34,38,39 ] Arshad et al. calculated the SBH at the interface between TiO 2 and Au by XPS analysis on the VBM; [ 16 ] however, Marri and Ossicini emphasized that the CBM should be used to determine the SBH at the metal/n‐type semiconductor interfaces. [ 32 ] Here, we estimate the implied SBH as the difference between the electron affinities in the TiO 2 and the Au (i.e., the energy difference between the CBM and the vacuum level).…”

“…[ 32 ] Here, we estimate the implied SBH as the difference between the electron affinities in the TiO 2 and the Au (i.e., the energy difference between the CBM and the vacuum level). [ 16,32 ]…”

“…proposed a fabrication method of Au/TiO 2 nanorod arrays for photoelectrochemical measurement and determined the SBH of 0.23 eV at the interface between Au and amorphous TiO 2 using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis on valence band maximum. [ 16 ] They claimed that the low SBH that exists at the interface is beneficial to the effective charge separation of Au/TiO 2 .…”