Enhanced Photoelectrocatalytic Reduction Of Oxygen Using Au@Tio2 Plasmonic Film

Keywords

Au nanoparticle; oxygen reduction reaction; photoelectrocatalysis; plasmonics; TiO nanocavity array 2

Abstract

Novel Au@TiO2 plasmonic films were fabricated by individually placing Au nanoparticles into TiO2 nanocavity arrays through a sputtering and dewetting process. These discrete Au nanoparticles in TiO2 nanocavities showed strong visible-light absorption due to the plasmonic resonance. Photoelectrochemical studies demonstrated that the developed Au@TiO2 plasmonic films exhibited significantly enhanced catalytic activities toward oxygen reduction reactions with an onset potential of 0.92 V (vs reversible hydrogen electrode), electron transfer number of 3.94, and limiting current density of 5.2 mA cm-2. A superior ORR activity of 310 mA mg-1 is achieved using low Au loading mass. The isolated Au nanoparticle size remarkably affected the catalytic activities of Au@TiO2, and TiO2 coated with 5 nm Au (Au5@TiO2) exhibited the best catalytic function to reduce oxygen. The plasmon-enhanced reductive activity is attributed to the surface plasmonic resonance of isolated Au nanoparticles in TiO2 nanocavities and suppressed electron recombination. This work provides comprehensive understanding of a novel plasmonic system using isolated noble metals into nanostructured semiconductor films as a potential alternative catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction.

Publication Date

12-28-2016

Publication Title

ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces

Volume

8

Issue

51

Number of Pages

34970-34977

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.6b14586

Socpus ID

85007530288 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85007530288

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