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Enhancement of Ag‐Based Plasmonic Photocatalysis in Hydrogen Production from Ammonia Borane by the Assistance of Single‐Site Ti‐Oxide Moieties within a Silica Framework
Author(s) -
Verma Priyanka,
Kuwahara Yasutaka,
Mori Kohsuke,
Yamashita Hiromi
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201604712
Subject(s) - ammonia borane , photocatalysis , catalysis , materials science , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , oxide , mesoporous material , physisorption , visible spectrum , photochemistry , hydrogen production , chemical engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry , optoelectronics , engineering , metallurgy
Ag nanoparticles (NPs) have gained great attention owing to their interesting plasmonic properties and efficient catalysis under visible‐light irradiation. In this study, an Ag‐based plasmonic catalyst supported on mesoporous silica with isolated and tetrahedrally coordinated single‐site Ti‐oxide moieties, namely, Ag/Ti‐SBA‐15, was designed with the purpose of utilizing the broad spectral range of solar energy. The Ti‐SBA‐15 support allows the deposition of small Ag NPs with a narrow size distribution. The chemical structure, morphology, and optical properties of the prepared catalyst were characterized by techniques such as UV/Vis, FT extended X‐ray absorption fine structure, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, field‐emission SEM, TEM, and N 2 physisorption studies. The catalytic activity of Ag/Ti‐SBA‐15 in hydrogen production from ammonia borane by hydrolysis was significantly enhanced in comparison with Ag/SBA‐15 without Ti‐oxide moieties and Ag/TiO 2 /SBA‐15 involving agglomerated TiO 2 , both in the dark and under light irradiation. Improved electron transfer under light irradiation caused by the creation of heterojunctions between Ag NPs and Ti‐oxide moieties explains the results obtained in the present study.