Highly enhanced photocatalytic activity of WO3 thin films loaded with Pt–Ag bimetallic alloy nanoparticles. Issue 2 (4th January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dong, Pengyu; Yang, Bairen; Liu, Chao; Xu, Fenghua; Xi, Xinguo; Hou, Guihua; Shao, Rong
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 7:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 947
• Page End: 956
• Publication Date: 2017-01-04
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c6ra25272a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : This study provides a novel approach to design efficient WO3 photocatalysts decorated by bimetallic Pt–Ag alloy nanoparticles. Abstract : WO3 thin films loaded with Pt–Ag bimetallic alloy nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by a three-step method involving the formation of a homogeneous precursor sol, spin coating as well as UV-light reduction, and calcination. Moreover, a systematic, comparative study of the microstructure, chemical environment and electrochemical characteristics of the as-prepared Pt/WO3, Ag/WO3, and Pt–Ag/WO3 thin films was carried out. It was found that the Pt–Ag/WO3 thin film exhibited a highly enhanced photocatalytic performance for the degradation of methylene blue solution compared with the pure WO3, Pt/WO3 and Ag/WO3 thin films. Based on the experimental results and the energy-band diagrams, the transfer paths of photogenerated charges and the enhanced photocatalytic mechanism were proposed. It was suggested that the photogenerated electrons from the conduction band of WO3 first transferred to Ag and then to Pt in the Pt–Ag/WO3 sample during the photocatalytic process, promoting the efficient two-electron reduction of O2 compared to in the Pt/WO3 and Ag/WO3 samples. In addition, this process prevented the oxidation of Ag in the Pt–Ag/WO3 sample during the photodegradation process in air. Overall, this study provides a novel approach to design efficient photocatalysts decorated by bimetallic alloy nanoparticles.