Gold-plasmon enhanced photocatalytic performance of anatase titania nanotubes under visible-light irradiation

Journal Article · Mon Feb 15 00:00:00 EST 2016 · Materials Research Bulletin

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATERRESBULL.2015.10.048· OSTI ID:22581429

Yang, Bingyang ^[1]; He, Dawei ^[1]; Wang, Wenshuo ^[2]; Zhuo, Zuliang; Wang, Yongsheng ^[1]

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1. Key Laboratory of Luminescence and Optical Information, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, 100044 (China)
2. Institute of Particle Technology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Cauerstrasse 4, D-91058 Erlangen (Germany)

Highlights: • APTMS/(TNTs-Au) was synthesized using a deposition-precipitation process. • APTMS/(TNTs-Au) showed superior visible light activity for the degradation of methylene blue. • The electromagnetic field distribution at the interface between TNTs and Au NPs were estimated by the 3D finite-difference time domain simulation. • The working mechanism of the photocatalytic activity of APTMS/(TNTs-Au) was illustrated. - Abstract: [3-Aminopropyl]trimethoxysilane-modified titania nanotubes decorated with Au nanoparticles (APTMS/(TNTs-Au)) nanocomposites were synthesized using a deposition-precipitation process. The results showed that Au nanoparticles (NPs) in the metallic state were firmly adhered to the surface of the anatase TNTs. APTMS/(TNTs-Au) exhibited great photocatalytic activities which were evaluated from the degradation rate of methylene blue aqueous solution under visible light irradiation. 3D finite-difference time domain simulation was performed to estimate the electromagnetic field distribution at the interface between TNTs and Au NPs. The visible photocatalytic activity of APTMS/(TNTs-Au) was largely attributed to the surface plasmon absorption of metallic Au NPs, which generated and transferred hot electrons to the CB of TNTs. In addition, the hot electrons on the surface of TNTs also suppressed the radiative electron–hole recombination and consequently enhanced the photocatalytic activity.

• OSTI ID: 22581429
• Journal Information: Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 74; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2015 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0025-5408
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
ELECTRONS
GOLD
HOLES
INTERFACES
IRRADIATION
METHYLENE BLUE
NANOCOMPOSITES
NANOPARTICLES
NANOTUBES
PHOTOCATALYSIS
PLASMONS
PRECIPITATION
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SURFACES
TITANIUM OXIDES
VISIBLE RADIATION
X-RAY DIFFRACTION