In-situ photo-reduction of silver particles and their SPR effect in enhancing the photocatalytic water splitting of Ag{sub 2}O/TiO{sub 2} photocatalysts under solar light irradiation: A case study

Journal Article · Wed Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 2017 · Materials Research Bulletin

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATERRESBULL.2017.08.028· OSTI ID:22730476

Kwak, Byeong Sub; Police, Anil Kumar Reddy; Kang, Misook

Highlights: • Visible light induced SPR bands confirmed the Plasmonic resonance behaviour of Ag. • Appreciable band gap reduction of TiO{sub 2} due to in-situ photoreduction of Ag{sub 2}O to Ag. • H{sub 2}-TPR emphasized the strong interaction between Ag and TiO{sub 2}. • Ag/TiO{sub 2} witnessed 76.6 folds improved H{sub 2} production rate than P25-TiO{sub 2}. - Abstract: Plasmonic Ag{sub 2}O/TiO{sub 2} photocatalysts were synthesized by impregnating silver oxide nano clusters over the surface of TiO{sub 2}. It is found that the in-situ photo reduced silver particles showed visible light absorption in a wide range of wavelength 400–800 nm due to localized surface plasmon resonance. The in-situ formed metallic silver transfer electrons to the TiO{sub 2} through SPR excitation and thus improving photocatalytic hydrogen production. The SPR behavior of silver particles on TiO{sub 2} was characterized by UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirms the metallic silver. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy confirm the crystallinity of the prepared samples. H{sub 2}-temperature-programmed reduction, photoluminescence, electron paramagnetic resonance, infrared spectroscopy, BET-surface area and Raman spectra were used to understand the morphological and chemical nature of the catalysts. Among the samples, 1 wt% Ag/TiO{sub 2} showed the best activity ca. ∼23 mmol g{sup −1} in presence of glycerol scavenger.

• OSTI ID: 22730476
• Journal Information: Materials Research Bulletin, Journal Name: Materials Research Bulletin Vol. 95; ISSN MRBUAC; ISSN 0025-5408
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
CATALYSTS
ELECTRON SPIN RESONANCE
INFRARED SPECTRA
PARTICLES
PHOTOCATALYSIS
PLASMONS
RAMAN SPECTRA
REDUCTION
SILVER OXIDES
TITANIUM OXIDES
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
VISIBLE RADIATION
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY