Hydrogen Doped Metal Oxide Semiconductors with Exceptional and Tunable Localized Surface Plasmon Resonances

Abstract

Heavily doped semiconductors have recently emerged as a remarkable class of plasmonic alternative to conventional noble metals; however, controlled manipulation of their surface plasmon bands toward short wavelengths, especially in the visible light spectrum, still remains a challenge. Here we demonstrate that hydrogen doped given MoO3 and WO3 via a facile H-spillover approach, namely, hydrogen bronzes, exhibit strong localized surface plasmon resonances in the visible light region. Through variation of their stoichiometric compositions, tunable plasmon resonances could be observed in a wide range, which hinge upon the reduction temperatures, metal species, the nature and the size of metal oxide supports in the synthetic H2 reduction process as well as oxidation treatment in the postsynthetic process. Density functional theory calculations unravel that the intercalation of hydrogen atoms into the given host structures yields appreciable delocalized electrons, enabling their plasmonic properties. The plasmonic hybrids show potentials in heterogeneous catalysis, in which visible light irradiation enhanced catalytic performance toward p-nitrophenol reduction relative to dark condition. Our findings provide direct evidence for achieving plasmon resonances in hydrogen doped metal oxide semiconductors, and may allow large-scale applications with low-price and earth-abundant elements.

Anderson Localization in 2D Amorphous MoO3‐x Monolayers for Electrochemical Ammonia Synthesis

“…Moreover, XPS measurements confirm the lower energy level (530.3 eV) of O1s, indicating the existence of oxygen vacancies (OVs) in 2D A‐MoO 3‐ x monolayers (Figure d) . The absorption in visible region is attributed to the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of 2D A‐MoO 3‐ x monolayers (Figure S2) . It is also concluded that the surface of MoO 3‐ x possesses enough relatively localized electrons, resulting from oxygen vacancies and Mo 5+ .…”

Room‐temperature Synthesis of Amorphous Molybdenum Oxide Nanodots with Tunable Localized Surface Plasmon Resonances

“…It is observed that prior to CH 3 CSNH 2 reduction, only Mo 6+ ions exists in MoO 3 , however, after CH 3 CSNH 2 reduction, Mo 6+ and Mo 5+ ions are all presented in the sample. Indeed, the Mo 3d core level spectrum of MoO 3 displays the characteristic spin‐orbit doublet with binding energy peaks at 235.7 and 232.8 eV, correlating with 3d 3/2 and 3d 5/2 of Mo 6+ species at higher oxidation state . The reduction reaction renders the Mo 3d core level spectrum broader and less structured, which could be further fitted into two overlapping spin‐orbit doublets.…”

Endotaxial Growth of [100]‐Oriented TaON Films on LiTaO3 Single Crystals for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

“…The hydrogen production by PEC water splitting under sun light irradiation is one of the most promising strategies that can decrease the fossil fuel consumption and reduce the greenhouse gas emission . For practical applications, the electrode materials for PEC water splitting should be efficient under visible light, chemically stable and inexpensive . Only a limited few materials satisfy these requirements .…”