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Gelija D, Loka C, Goddati M, Bak NH, Lee J, Kim MD. Integration of Ag Plasmonic Metal and WO 3/InGaN Heterostructure for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023. [PMID: 37452743 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c05141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
In this study, a Ag/WO3/InGaN hybrid heterostructure was successfully developed by sputtering and molecular beam epitaxy techniques, to obtain unique Ag nanospheres adorned with cauliflower-like WO3 nanostructure over the InGaN nanorods (NRs). Exploiting the localized surface plasmon resonance of Ag, the Ag/WO3/InGaN heterostructure exhibited superior photoabsorption ability in the visible region (400-700 nm) of the solar spectrum, with a surface plasmon resonance band centered around 440 nm. Comprehensive analysis through photoluminescence spectroscopy, photocurrent measurements, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed that the Ag/WO3/InGaN hybrid heterostructure significantly enhances the charge carrier separation and transfer kinetics leading to improved overall photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance. The photocurrent density of the Ag/WO3/InGaN photoanode is 1.17 mA/cm2, which is about 2.72 times higher than that of pure InGaN NRs under visible light irradiation. The photoanode exhibited excellent stability for about 12 h. From the study, it has been found that the maximum applied bias photon-to-current efficiency (ABPE) is ∼1.67% at the applied bias of 0.6 V. The improved PEC water splitting efficiency of the Ag/WO3/InGaN photoanode is attributed to the synergistic effects of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), efficient charge carrier separation and transport, and the presence of a Schottky junction. Consequently, the plasmonic metal-assisted heterojunction-based semiconductor Ag/WO3/InGaN demonstrates immense potential for practical applications in photoelectrochemical water splitting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devarajulu Gelija
- Institute of Quantum Systems (IQS), Chungnam National University, 99, Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Chadrasekhar Loka
- Department of Advanced Materials Engineering & Smart Natural Space Research Centre, Kongju National University, Cheonan 31080, South Korea
| | - Mahendra Goddati
- Department of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Na-Hyun Bak
- Department of Physics, Chungnam National University, 99, Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaebeom Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Moon-Deock Kim
- Institute of Quantum Systems (IQS), Chungnam National University, 99, Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
- Department of Physics, Chungnam National University, 99, Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
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Enhanced Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalysis of Ag/Ag2O/ZnO Nanocomposite Heterostructures. NANOMATERIALS 2022; 12:nano12152528. [PMID: 35893496 PMCID: PMC9330815 DOI: 10.3390/nano12152528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Visible-light-driven photocatalysis is one promising and efficient approach for decontaminating pollutants. Herein, we report the combination of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and p-n heterojunction structure Ag-Ag2O-ZnO nanocomposite synthesized by a hydrothermal process for the suppression of photogenerated electron-hole pair recombination rates, the extension of the absorption edge to the visible region, and the enhancement of photocatalytic efficiency. The prepared nanocomposites were investigated by standard analytical techniques and the results revealed that the synthesized powders were comprised of Ag, Ag2O, and ZnO phases. Photocatalytic activity of the photocatalyst tested for methylene blue, methyl orange, and rhodamine B showed the highest photocatalytic degradation efficiency: 97.3%, 91.1%, and 94.8% within 60 min under visible-light irradiation. The average lifetime of the photogenerated charge carriers was increased twofold in the Ag-Ag2O-ZnO photocatalyst (~10 ns) compared to the pure ZnO (~5.2 ns). The enhanced photocatalytic activity resulted from a decrease of the charge carrier recombination rate as inferred from the steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence investigations, and the increased photoabsorption ability. The Ag-Ag2O-ZnO photocatalyst was stable over five repeated cyclic photodegradation tests without showing any significant changes in performance. Additionally, the structure indicated a potential for application in environmental remediation. The present study showcases the robust design of highly efficient and reusable visible-light-active photocatalysts via the combination of p-n heterojunction and LSPR phenomena.
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