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Metal Nanoparticle Photocatalysts: Synthesis, Characterization, and Application
Author(s) -
Han Pengfei,
Martens Wayde,
Waclawik Eric Rolfe,
Sarina Sarina,
Zhu Huaiyong
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
particle and particle systems characterization
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.877
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1521-4117
pISSN - 0934-0866
DOI - 10.1002/ppsc.201700489
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , visible spectrum , surface plasmon resonance , materials science , nanoparticle , metal , nanotechnology , absorption (acoustics) , plasmon , characterization (materials science) , particle (ecology) , particle size , chemical engineering , photochemistry , chemistry , optoelectronics , catalysis , metallurgy , organic chemistry , composite material , engineering , oceanography , geology
Metal nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as a kind of new photocatalyst to drive various chemical reactions by visible‐light irradiation. A distinct advantage of metal NP photocatalysts is that their light absorption is not limited to a certain wavelength but instead they are able to utilize a broad range of wavelengths, constituting a large fraction of the solar spectrum. Metal NPs like gold, silver, and copper NPs can strongly absorb visible light due to the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect. Recent developments have shown that the light absorption properties strongly depend on the shape, size, and particle–particle interactions of NPs, which directly influence their photocatalytic activities. In this review, an overview of the preparation of metal NPs photocatalysts with various morphologies is given along with a brief discussion of the relationship between the morphology/composition and optical properties. The latest photocatalytic applications of these morphologies are also presented, and some of the challenges for the development of metal NPs photocatalysts are provided.