Near‐Field Plasmonic Functionalization of Light Harvesting Oxide–Oxide Heterojunctions for Efficient Solar Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting: The AuNP/ZnFe₂O₄/ZnO System

Abstract

Strong enhancing effect of plasmonic Au nanoparticles on the photoelectrochemical performance of a ZnFe2O4/ZnO heterojunction used as photoanode for water splitting application is demonstrated. The material properties of Au/ZnFe2O4/ZnO complement each other remarkably well in the configuration proposed in terms of their optical, electronic, and catalytic properties.

Plasmon‐Mediated Solar Energy Conversion via Photocatalysis in Noble Metal/Semiconductor Composites

“…were coupled to the surface of semiconductors (e.g., TiO 2 photonic crystals, ZnO nanorod arrays, dendritic TiO 2 nanorod arrays, etc.). [[qv: 31a]],35,[[qv: 43b]],44 Notably, the amount of deposited noble metal needs to be well controlled. A high coverage of noble metal on the semiconductor will reduce the light exposure of the semiconductor as well as hinder the reactant access of semiconductor.…”

Spinel Structural Disorder Influences Solar‐Water‐Splitting Performance of ZnFe2O4 Nanorod Photoanodes

“…[10] The spinel ferrites (MFe 2 O 4 , M = Zn, Mg, Cu, Ca, etc.) [11,12] Specifically, n-type ZFO has garnered considerable interest as a secondary overlayer component of various composite photoelectrode systems such as TiO 2 /ZFO, [13,14] Fe 2 O 3 /ZFO, [15,16] and ZnO/ZFO, [17] to enhance photogenerated charge extraction in the primary oxide. [11,12] Specifically, n-type ZFO has garnered considerable interest as a secondary overlayer component of various composite photoelectrode systems such as TiO 2 /ZFO, [13,14] Fe 2 O 3 /ZFO, [15,16] and ZnO/ZFO, [17] to enhance photogenerated charge extraction in the primary oxide.…”

“…However, given the vast number of possible ternary and multinary metal oxides, interest in developing an ideal material remains. [11,12] Specifically, n-type ZFO has garnered considerable interest as a secondary overlayer component of various composite photoelectrode systems such as TiO 2 /ZFO, [13,14] Fe 2 O 3 /ZFO, [15,16] and ZnO/ZFO, [17] to enhance photogenerated charge extraction in the primary oxide. represent an attractive class of ternary metal oxides as photoelectrodes for PEC solar water splitting [4,10] given their suitable light harvesting in the visible range (bandgap energy, E g = 1.4-2.1 eV), abundant constituent elements, and demonstrated long-term photostability.…”

Fully integrated Ag nanoparticles/ZnO nanorods/graphene heterostructured photocatalysts for efficient conversion of solar to chemical energy

“…It could be attributed to the localized surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effects of the plasmonic AgNPs. Several possible plasmonic mechanisms may contribute to improved photocatalytic activities involving: (1) scattering and anti-reflection effects [28,29]; (2) plasmon-induced heating effects [30]; (3) plasmon-induced hot electron-hole pairs (hot electron transfer) [31,32]; and (4) electromagnetic field mechanisms [18,[33][34][35]. In our systems, we can exclude scattering and anti-reflection effects for the 10 nm-sized plasmonic AgNP-decorated ZNRs, because they only occur in metals with particle sizes larger than 100 nm in diameter [28,29].…”

“…The simulation result clearly verifies and characterizes the presence of a localized SPR-enhanced electromagnetic field for the present sample. The electromagnetic field mechanism is based on the interaction of the semiconductor with intense SPR-induced electromagnetic fields in the plasmonic nanostructures [18,[33][34][35]. SPR effects could concentrate the light flux (the energy of incoming photons) in small volumes surrounding the plasmonic nanostructures when the incident light was in resonance with the localized SPR of the plasmonic nanostructures.…”