Harnessing visible-light and limited near-IR photons through plasmon effect of gold nanorod with AgTiO2

TitleHarnessing visible-light and limited near-IR photons through plasmon effect of gold nanorod with AgTiO2
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2018
AuthorsPatra, KKumar, Gopinath, CS
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry C
Volume122
Issue2
Pagination1206-1214
Date PublishedJAN
Type of ArticleArticle
ISSN1932-7447
Abstract

The utilization of the red-green-blue (RGB) and limited near-IR photons for solar hydrogen evolution (SHE) has been reported in a single plasmonic nanocomposite. Present study describes the use of AgTiO2 (AgT) decorated with Au nanorods (AgT-AuNR) to enhance the absorption of entire visible-light and limited near-IR wavelength range in the sunlight for SHE from photocatalytic water splitting reaction. It is demonstrated that the longitudinal plasmon resonance of AuNR in AgT-AuNR induces SHE between 550 and 800 nm, whereas TiO2-AuNR or AgT shows no activity in this wavelength range. The key aspect of achieving the high photocatalytic activity of AgT-AuNR in the solar spectrum is the electronic integration among metal NPs as well as with TiO2, and the heterojunctions among them. Presence of such heterojunctions has been supported by different characterization studies. However, gold nanorod exhibits field effect and further enhances light harvesting. Although the absolute amount of energy harvested only from near-IR photons is low, when combined with high-energy visible-light photons within one sun conditions, it shows a multiplier effect rather than a simple additive effect. Likely, this is the first report, where SHE has been achieved with significant amount of light absorption at lambda >= 550 nm with a plasmonic nanocomposite.

DOI10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b10289
Type of Journal (Indian or Foreign)Foreign
Impact Factor (IF)4.536
Divison category: 
Catalysis and Inorganic Chemistry

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