Enhanced photocatalytic performance of sandwiched ZnO@Ag@Cu2O nanorod films: the distinct role of Ag NPs in the visible light and UV region. (5th March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ren, Shoutian; Zhao, Guoliang; Wang, Yingying; Wang, Benyang; Wang, Qiang
• Is Part Of: Nanotechnology. Volume 26:Number 12(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-03-05
• Subjects: photocatalysts -- localized surface plasmon resonance -- resonant energy transfer -- schottky junction -- sandwiched structure; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology; Publications périodiques; Nanotechnologies; Periodicals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/26/12/125403
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0957-4484

Abstract

Abstract: Sandwiched ZnO@Ag@Cu2 O nanorod films were synthesized by successive electrodeposition, magnetron sputtering and the second electrodeposition. The as-synthesized composites were characterized by x-ray diffraction patterns, field emission scanning electron microscopy, low- and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and a UV–vis spectrophotometer. Their photocatalytic performance was estimated by the degradation of a methyl orange solution under UV or visible-light irradiation, respectively. In the visible region, due to localized surface plasmon resonance absorption of Ag NPs, ZnO@Ag@Cu2 O showed a significantly enhanced photocatalytic performance. The enhancement factor of Ag NPs on the catalytic performance of ZnO@Ag@Cu2 O was estimated as a function of the Cu2 O deposition time, and the corresponding enhancement mechanism was also evaluated by the monochromatic photocatalytic experiment and discrete dipole approximation simulation. In the UV region, due to the formation of a Schottky junction (e.g. Ag/ZnO, Ag/Cu2 O), a limited enhanced photocatalytic performance was also realized for ZnO@Ag@Cu2 O photocatalysts.