ABSTRACT
Noble metals deposited on TiO2 act as electron traps facilitating electron-hole separation and promoting the interfacial electron transfer process. In particular, silver nanoparticles have the ability to absorb visible light due to localized surface plasmon resonance. Here we report a photochemical and photocatalytic method for depositing Ag nanoparticles (2-20 nm) on TiO2 by using UV light at room temperature. UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and time-resolved microwave conductivity were used as characterization techniques. The photocatalytic activity was investigated by measuring the decomposition of rhodamine B under UV and visible light irradiation. The fastest bleaching of RhB under visible-light irradiation has been obtained by Ag/TiO2 plasmonic photocatalyst prepared by the photocatalytic route. These results were explained in terms of the more efficient photon absorption due to the presence of the surface plasmon resonance.
Subject(s)
Metal Nanoparticles/chemistry , Silver/chemistry , Titanium/chemistry , Adsorption , Light , Materials Testing , Metal Nanoparticles/radiation effects , Silver/radiation effects , Titanium/radiation effectsABSTRACT
Urchin-like palladium nanostructures were synthesized by slow radiolytic reduction of Pd(II) in cetylpyridinium chloride (CPCl) micellar solution. They were formed by polycrystalline nanowires originating from the same core. The growth process leading to these urchin-like structures has been studied. These three-dimensional (3D) nanostructures were obtained at high Pd concentration (0.1 M) which led to a relatively large quantity of nanomaterials. These nanostructures show very interesting cycling sorption properties for hydrogen storage.
