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Interactions of Plasmonic Silver Nanoparticles with High Energy Sites on Multi‐Faceted Rutile TiO 2 Photoanodes
Author(s) -
BallestasBarrientos Alfonso,
Li Xiaobo,
Yick Samuel,
Yuen Alexander,
Masters Anthony F.,
Maschmeyer Thomas
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
chemcatchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.497
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1867-3899
pISSN - 1867-3880
DOI - 10.1002/cctc.201901043
Subject(s) - rutile , materials science , nanorod , crystallite , grain boundary , plasmon , nanoparticle , electron backscatter diffraction , dielectric spectroscopy , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , silver nanoparticle , optoelectronics , electrochemistry , metallurgy , microstructure , chemistry , electrode , engineering
The plasmonic interactions between silver nanoparticles and various rutile TiO 2 facets are studied by correlating Advanced Electron Microscopy and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) to help design a route towards an optimised polycrystalline film fabrication. By using an Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) detector, it was determined that using HF as directing agent during the hydrothermal growth of TiO 2 promotes the formation of high‐angle grain boundaries. Silver photodeposition occurs preferentially at these boundaries, consistent with the presence of high energy sites on the (100)‐oriented rutile TiO 2 nanorods. Further EIS study showed an increase in the photoelectrochemical activity in the visible range of the solar spectrum for the samples consisting of silver nanoparticles deposited on these grain boundaries.