Gold Plasmon‐Enhanced Solar Hydrogen Production over SrTiO₃/TiO₂ Heterostructures

Abstract

This work demonstrated that 75 fold-enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production over SrTiO 3 /TiO 2 heterostructures by Au plasmon-enhanced electron-phonon decoupling to generate more amounts of energetic electrons for solar water splitting. Such Au modified SrTiO 3 /TiO 2 heterostructures were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal post-photoreduction method, consequently the hydrogen evolution rate is 467.3 μmol g À 1 h À 1 , which is 187 and 75 folds enhancement compared with TiO 2 and SrTiO 3 /TiO 2 samples, respectively. Based on systematic investigations, it is proposed that the internal electric field (IEF) between the interfaces of SrTiO 3 /TiO 2 and the enhanced nearfield amplitudes of localized surface plasmon (LSP) inhibit the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes in the bulk and accelerate the interfacial transfer of charge carriers. Simultaneously, electron spin resonance (ESR) showed the change of Ti 3 + species in SrTiO 3 /TiO 2 microspheres, mirroring the energetic electron transfer process from Au NPs to SrTiO 3 / TiO 2 microspheres.

Hybrid Plasmonic Nanomaterials for Hydrogen Generation and Carbon Dioxide Reduction

“…Plasmon–perovskite hybrids investigated toward H 2 production recently are shown in Table 6 . Out of the eight different pervoskite oxide materials shown in Table 6 , seven 70 , 156 − 163 are wide band gap semiconductors which require UV light for optical excitation. Extending the light absorption into the visible region with plasmonic hybrids is a promising strategy to increase the solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency (illustrated in Figure 4 c).…”

Recent Advances in Plasmonic Photocatalysis Based on TiO2 and Noble Metal Nanoparticles for Energy Conversion, Environmental Remediation, and Organic Synthesis

“…[206] Besides, the Au NPs effectively utilize VIS light by LSPR effect thus promoting the light absorption and enhanced photocatalytic reduction of N 2 . However, the solar simulator used for N 2 fixation consists of both UV and VIS lights, which [179] Cu/TiO 2 1000 W Xe-lamp Methanol 160 µmol g −1 J −1 (2018) [150] Au@TiO 2 300 W Xe lamp Methanol 4.9 mmol g −1 h −1 (2018) [91] Au-SrTiO 3 /TiO 2 Simulated sunlight (λ > 320 nm) Methanol 467.30 µmol g −1 h −1 (2019) [180] Ag NRs@TiO 2 300 W Xe lamp (λ > 400 nm) Methanol 390 µmol g −1 h −1 (2019) [146] Cu-TiO 2 Solar simulator (AM 1.5 filter, λ > 400 nm) NA 162.02 mL h −1 cm −2 (2019) [148] Ag/MoS 2 /TiO 2−x 500 W Xe lamp (λ > 420 nm) Methanol 1.98 mmol g −1 h −1 (2019) [143] Cu-CuO/TiO 2 NT arrays Solar simulator (AM 1.5 filter, 100 mW cm −2 ) NA 118 µL h −1 cm −2 (2019) [149] Au NPs/TiO 2 film 300 W Xe lamp (500-600 nm) Lactic acid 6.39 mmol g −1 h −1 (2019) [117] Ni/TiO 2 300 W Xe lamp Ethanol 592.66 mmol g −1 h −1 (2019) [92] Au/TiO 2 NSs 350 W xenon lamp (365 nm) Glycerol 234.4 µmol h −1 (2019) [181] Au NPs-WO (2020) [182] Au/TiO 2 Xe lamp (9 kW m −2 ) Methanol 1600 µmol h −1 (2020) [83] SiO 2 @TiO 2 /Au@Ag NRs Solar simulator (λ = 350−2400 nm) Formic acid 62.0 mmol g −1 h −1 (2020) [183] NCs, nanocubes; NPs, nanoparticles; NRs, nanorods; NSs, nanosheets; NTs, nanotubes; PCP, porous coordination polymers; Rgo, reduced graphene oxide. Adapted with permission.…”

Plasmonic Photocatalysts for Sunlight‐Driven Reduction of CO2: Details, Developments, and Perspectives

“…This shortens the travel pathway of charge carriers to the active sites, thus decreasing the probability of charge‐carrier recombination. Besides, the near field enhancement can inhibit the electron–hole recombination in the nearby semiconductor, simultaneously accelerating the charge‐carrier transfer …”