Effect of Surface Plasmon Resonance and the Heterojunction on Photoelectrochemical Activity of Metal-Loaded TiO2Electrodes under Visible Light Irradiation

Chia Yu Chang, Akira Yamakata, Wenjea J. Tseng

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

This study examines the influence of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and the semiconducting heterojunction on the photoelectrochemical (PEC) activity of metal-loaded TiO2electrodes under visible light irradiation. Different metal nanoparticles (including Au, Ag, Rh, and Cu) have been selected deliberately and deposited on the TiO2electrode layers via photodeposition and subsequent annealing at 300 °C. UV-vis spectra show an increased absorbance in the visible light region with the metal loading. X-ray photon spectroscopy reveals the formation of CuO, Ag2O, and Ru2O3after annealing, while only Au remains in its metallic state. The PEC activity increases in the ascending order of Cu < Au < Rh < Ag. This is consistent with the electrochemical impedance measurement where the Ag-loaded TiO2electrode shows the lowest charge transfer resistance together with the highest ion diffusion rate. Our findings suggest that the presence of semiconducting p-n heterojunctions with associated oxygen-vacancy defects facilitates the enhanced PEC activity by reducing the electron-hole recombination in addition to the SPR effect.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)12450-12459
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry C
Volume126
Issue number30
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 4 2022

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Energy(all)
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films

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