Silver-Decorated TiO₂Nanorod Array Films with Enhanced Photoelectrochemical and Photocatalytic Properties

Abstract

Highly ordered TiO 2 nanorod (TNR) array films decorated with Ag nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) by a hydrothermal treatment and a successive ionic layer adsorption reaction (SILAR) technique. The amount of Ag NPs on the TNR can be controlled by changing the number of cycles in silver nitrate (AgNO 3 ) solution. The morphology, structure, composition, optical, photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic properties of the Ag/TNR films were investigated in detail. The Ag/TNR films exhibit larger redshift of the absorption edges and higher absorption intensities in the visible light range. Furthermore, the Ag/TNR films sensitized with 5 SILAR cycles show the best photocurrent density (32 μA/cm 2 ) and photodegradation efficiency (95.52%), which is 5.7 and 1.3 times higher than that of pure TNR, respectively. The excellent properties can be ascribed to localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect of Ag NPs. The stability and reusability of the Ag/TNR films were also investigated. Therefore, the Ag/TNR films with high performance and stability can be used in potential applications.

Tuning atomically precise metal nanocluster mediated photoelectrocatalysis via a non-conjugated polymer

“…S5a†) and O 1s (Fig. 1j) spectra of the TNRAs and T(PA) 4 , the binding energies of the Ti 2p peaks correspond to the Ti 4+ species, 47,48 and the O 1s signals correspond to the Ti–O and Ti–OH species from the TiO 2 substrate, 49 respectively. Obviously, the binding energies of the elements Ti and O in T(PA) 4 display apparent negative shifts of ca.…”

Synergistic effect of Ag/ MoS 2 / TiO 2 heterostructure arrays on enhancement of photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic performance

“…In Figure 5D, the binding energies of 161.0 eV and 162.1 eV are S 2p 3/2 and S 2p 1/2 , respectively, which is attributed to the valence state of S 2‐ . Furthermore, The two peaks at 229.0 eV and 232.2 eV in Figure 5E are matched with Mo 3d 5/2 and Mo 3d 3/2 , respectively 39,40 . The spectrum of Ag 3d in Figure 5F exhibits two strong peaks at 368.6 eV and 374.4 eV, assigning to Ag + 3d 5/2 and Ag + 3d 3/2 .…”

SILAR Deposition of Metal Oxide Nanostructured Films

“…Therefore, many studies have been devoted to the formation of type II heterostructures based on Fe 2 O 3 , BiVO 4 , and TiO 2 . Heterojunctions of Fe 2 O 3 /BiVO 4 , [264] ZnFe 2 O 4 /BiVO 4 , [260] CuCoO 2 / BiVO 4 , [259] BiVO 4 /TiO 2 , [189,265] BiVO 4 /ZnO, [266,267] BiVO 4 /WO 3 , [186] AgVO 3 /BiVO 4 , [268] Fe 2 O 3 /TiO 2 , [269] Ag 2 WO 4 -AgI/TiO 2 , [270] Ag/TiO 2 [271] Cu 2 O/TiO 2 , [190] BiFeO 3 /TiO 2 , [195] Ag/Ag 2 WO 4 /ZnO, [262] and CuWO 4 /BiOI [261] were prepared where at least one of the materials is deposited by SILAR. For example, TiO 2 nanotubes were synthesized by anodization of Ti-foil and then using SILAR to deposit a AgI-Ag 2 WO 4 layer to achieve heterojunction structure.…”