Octahedral anatase particles (OAPs), prepared by ultrasonication-hydrothermal reaction (US-HT), were modified with 2 wt% of gold by photodeposition. Conditions of US-HT process such as durations of US and durations of HT were varied to obtain OAPs products different by physicochemical and morphological properties. Au/OAPs samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The photocatalytic activity was tested under UV irradiation for decomposition of acetic acid (CO2 system) and dehydrogenation of methanol (H2 system) under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, respectively, and for oxidation of 2-propanol under visible light irradiation. Photodeposition of gold was very fast for all OAPs samples (0.5–10 min) under Ar atmosphere, and the clear correlation between the content of electron traps (ETs) and the induction period, during which nanoparticles (NPs) of gold are formed, indicates that ETs in titania samples are a key-factor for rapidity of gold photodeposition on titania surface. It was found that better morphology of titania (larger content of faceted particles) resulted in formation of larger gold NPs, while small gold NPs were deposited on structural defects. Modification of OAPs with gold NPs resulted in significant enhancement of photocatalytic activity, being e.g., 1.5 (CO2 system), 7.7 (H2 system), and even more than 40 under vis irradiation. It was found that both the properties of titania and gold are crucial for resultant photocatalytic activity, but a direct correlation between one structural/physical property and photocatalytic activity could not be obtained since all structural properties changed simultaneously when conditions of photocatalyst preparation (US-HT) were changed. Therefore, gold NPs of controlled sizes were deposited on OAPs product with the best morphology by modified photodeposition method. Clear correlation between photocatalytic activity under visible light and the size of gold NPs indicates that gold properties are decisive for visible light activity rather than titania properties. 3D-FDTD simulations confirm that an increase in the size of gold NPs results in extended surface areas with field enhancement.

Size-controlled gold nanoparticles on octahedral anatase particles as efficient plasmonic photocatalyst / Wei, Zhishun; Rosa, Lorenzo; Wang, Kunlei; Endo, Maya; Juodkazis, Saulius; Ohtani, Bunsho; Kowalska, Ewa. - In: APPLIED CATALYSIS. B, ENVIRONMENTAL. - ISSN 0926-3373. - 206:(2017), pp. 393-405. [10.1016/j.apcatb.2017.01.043]

Size-controlled gold nanoparticles on octahedral anatase particles as efficient plasmonic photocatalyst

ROSA, Lorenzo;
2017

Abstract

Octahedral anatase particles (OAPs), prepared by ultrasonication-hydrothermal reaction (US-HT), were modified with 2 wt% of gold by photodeposition. Conditions of US-HT process such as durations of US and durations of HT were varied to obtain OAPs products different by physicochemical and morphological properties. Au/OAPs samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The photocatalytic activity was tested under UV irradiation for decomposition of acetic acid (CO2 system) and dehydrogenation of methanol (H2 system) under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, respectively, and for oxidation of 2-propanol under visible light irradiation. Photodeposition of gold was very fast for all OAPs samples (0.5–10 min) under Ar atmosphere, and the clear correlation between the content of electron traps (ETs) and the induction period, during which nanoparticles (NPs) of gold are formed, indicates that ETs in titania samples are a key-factor for rapidity of gold photodeposition on titania surface. It was found that better morphology of titania (larger content of faceted particles) resulted in formation of larger gold NPs, while small gold NPs were deposited on structural defects. Modification of OAPs with gold NPs resulted in significant enhancement of photocatalytic activity, being e.g., 1.5 (CO2 system), 7.7 (H2 system), and even more than 40 under vis irradiation. It was found that both the properties of titania and gold are crucial for resultant photocatalytic activity, but a direct correlation between one structural/physical property and photocatalytic activity could not be obtained since all structural properties changed simultaneously when conditions of photocatalyst preparation (US-HT) were changed. Therefore, gold NPs of controlled sizes were deposited on OAPs product with the best morphology by modified photodeposition method. Clear correlation between photocatalytic activity under visible light and the size of gold NPs indicates that gold properties are decisive for visible light activity rather than titania properties. 3D-FDTD simulations confirm that an increase in the size of gold NPs results in extended surface areas with field enhancement.
2017
206
393
405
Size-controlled gold nanoparticles on octahedral anatase particles as efficient plasmonic photocatalyst / Wei, Zhishun; Rosa, Lorenzo; Wang, Kunlei; Endo, Maya; Juodkazis, Saulius; Ohtani, Bunsho; Kowalska, Ewa. - In: APPLIED CATALYSIS. B, ENVIRONMENTAL. - ISSN 0926-3373. - 206:(2017), pp. 393-405. [10.1016/j.apcatb.2017.01.043]
Wei, Zhishun; Rosa, Lorenzo; Wang, Kunlei; Endo, Maya; Juodkazis, Saulius; Ohtani, Bunsho; Kowalska, Ewa
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
1-s2.0-S0926337317300590-main.pdf

Open access

Tipologia: Versione pubblicata dall'editore
Dimensione 4.48 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
4.48 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri
Pubblicazioni consigliate

Licenza Creative Commons
I metadati presenti in IRIS UNIMORE sono rilasciati con licenza Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal, mentre i file delle pubblicazioni sono rilasciati con licenza Attribuzione 4.0 Internazionale (CC BY 4.0), salvo diversa indicazione.
In caso di violazione di copyright, contattare Supporto Iris

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11380/1141682
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 9
  • Scopus 52
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 48
social impact