Issue 28, 2024

Efficient plasmonic water splitting by heteroepitaxial junction-induced faceting of gold nanoparticles on an anatase titanium(iv) oxide nanoplate array electrode

Abstract

Plasmonic photocatalysts represented by gold nanoparticle (NP)-loaded titanium(IV) oxide (Au/TiO2) can be promising solar-to-fuel converters by virtue of their response to visible-to-near infrared light. Hitherto, Au/rutile (R)-TiO2 has been recognized as exhibiting photocatalytic activity higher than that of Au/anatase (A)-TiO2. Herein, we demonstrate that the high potential of A-TiO2 as the Au NP support can be brought out through atomic level interface control. Faceting of Au NPs is induced by a heteroepitaxial junction on an A-TiO2(001) nanoplate array (Au/A-TiO2 NPLA). Photoexcitation towards the Au/A-TiO2 NPLA electrode generates current for the water oxidation reaction at λ < 900 nm with a maximum efficiency of 0.39% at λ = 600 nm, which is much larger than the values reported so far for the usual electrodes. The striking activity of the Au/A-TiO2 NPLA electrode was rationalized using a potential-dependent Fowler model. This study presented a novel approach for developing solar-driven electrodes for green and sustainable fuel production.

Graphical abstract: Efficient plasmonic water splitting by heteroepitaxial junction-induced faceting of gold nanoparticles on an anatase titanium(iv) oxide nanoplate array electrode

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
10 mar 2024
Accepted
11 iyn 2024
First published
12 iyn 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Nanoscale, 2024,16, 13435-13444

Efficient plasmonic water splitting by heteroepitaxial junction-induced faceting of gold nanoparticles on an anatase titanium(IV) oxide nanoplate array electrode

S. Naya, Y. Morita, H. Sugime, T. Soejima, M. Fujishima and H. Tada, Nanoscale, 2024, 16, 13435 DOI: 10.1039/D4NR01013B

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