Silicon Nanowires Decorated with Silver Nanoparticles for Photoassisted Hydrogen Generation

Abstract

Highly n-doped silicon nanowires (SiNWs) decorated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) at the top, middle, and bottom were produced using electroless silver deposition (ELD), silver mirror reaction (MR), and native AgNPs as a reference, respectively. Subsequently, hydrogen generation on SiNWs decorated with and without AgNPs was evaluated. Our results show that SiNWs decorated with native and MR AgNPs produce the highest and the lowest hydrogen amount under white light irradiation in 3 h, respectively. Moreover, for SiNWs with native AgNPs, the morphology of SiNWs after hydrogen generation was almost the same as the original array of SiNWs before hydrogen release, even after 24 h in water/ethanol (4:1; v/v) solution. However, the geometry of SiNWs decorated without and with AgNPs by ELD and MR was collapsed after hydrogen evolution. The detailed surface studies show that the sidewall surface of SiNWs with native AgNPs has a rougher topology and formed a stable layer of SiO x in water. Our observations strongly suggest that two hydrogen generation possibilities, i.e., SiNW oxidation and photostimulation, are jointly responsible for the efficient hydrogen generation. Additionally, the presence of AgNPs on the sidewall of the SiNW matrix can enhance the hydrogen generation rate. Our results open novel perspectives for the effective hydrogen generation based on nanostructured silicon.

Nanostructured silicon photocatalysts for solar-driven fuel production

“…Bulk Si wafers have been subjected to chemical etching to create high surface area nanowire arrays for photocatalytic applications. 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 The wire arrays have the added advantage of enhanced light absorption via trapping and shorter distance the carriers have to diffuse to be collected at the interface. 19 Despite the use of single-crystalline Si wafers to fabricate the wire arrays and the structural advantages they provide, H 2 production rates remain quite low (<300 μL per hour).…”

“… 19 Despite the use of single-crystalline Si wafers to fabricate the wire arrays and the structural advantages they provide, H 2 production rates remain quite low (<300 μL per hour). 14 , 15 Moving away from architectures derived from Si wafers, Li et al. explored the waste by-product produced during the wafer manufacturing process known as diamond-wire sawing silicon waste (DSSW) for photocatalytic H 2 production.…”

Effects of Synthesis Conditions on Magnetic Field Sensitive Colloidal Nanoparticle Properties

“…Nanoparticle production methods are chemical vapor deposition [1], hydrogen reduction method [2], inert gas condensation method [3], micro heterogeneous system [4], flame spray pyrolysis [5] and co-precipitation [6] and high temperature hydrolysis reaction method [7]. Among them, the high temperature hydrolysis reaction method is performed using the "Schlenk line" as it requires an airless environment [8].…”

“Green” Fluorescent–Plasmonic Carbon-Based Nanocomposites with Controlled Performance for Mild Laser Hyperthermia

“…Indeed, organic nanostructures exhibit upconversion or multi-band photoluminescence (PL) that is very demanding in sensing, imaging, or nanothermometry applications [20][21][22]. Various group IV semiconductors, such as silicon nanoparticles, have been successfully demonstrated in the field of life science [23][24][25][26][27][28][29], molecule or temperature nanosensing [30][31][32][33], nonlinear photonics [34] and hydrogen generation [35][36][37]. Moreover, germanium nanostructures can be employed for cell imaging [38], memory devices [39] and many other applications [40].…”