The mechanism and material aspects of a novel Ag 2 O/TiO 2 photocatalyst active in infrared radiation for water splitting.

11 November 2016

Abstract

The Ag2O/TiO2 catalyst produces hydrogen with water and water/methanol mixture upon irradiation with IR light. In this report, the material aspects and photocatalytic mechanism of an IR-active Ag2O/TiO2 photocatalyst for water splitting reaction were investigated. The Ag2O/TiO2 catalyst contained 28% silver and 72% titanium by w/w and the XPS and XRD results revealed the presence of Ag2O (Ag+), Ag0, TiO2 (Ti4+) and Ti3+ states in the Ag2O/TiO2 catalyst.

A solid proof of the IR photon-initiated catalytic activity of the Ag2O/TiO2 catalyst was observed from the clear and enhanced IR response in the incident photon current conversion efficiency measurements of the Ag2O/TiO2 catalyst. Comparing the band gap energies to the energy of the IR source, plasmon-assisted photocatalytic activity and/or sub-band gap phonon-assisted multi-photon excitation mechanisms are proposed for the observed infrared photocatalytic activity of the Ag2O/TiO2 photocatalyst and the functions of Ag2O and TiO2 in “dark photocatalysis” are discussed.

Citation

Gannoruwa, A., Ariyasinghe, B. and Bandara, J., 2016. The mechanism and material aspects of a novel Ag 2 O/TiO 2 photocatalyst active in infrared radiation for water splitting. Catalysis Science & Technology, 6(2), pp.479-487.

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Category: Solar & Photovoltaics

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