Layer-by-Layer-Stabilized Plasmonic Gold-Silver Nanoparticles on TiO<sub>2</sub>: Towards Stable Solar Active Photocatalysts
To broaden the activity window of TiO<sub>2</sub>, a broadband plasmonic photocatalyst has been designed and optimized. This plasmonic ‘rainbow’ photocatalyst consists of TiO<sub>2</sub> modified with gold–silver composite nanoparticles of various sizes and compositions, thus...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/10/2624 |
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| author | Fons Dingenen Natan Blommaerts Myrthe Van Hal Rituraj Borah Daniel Arenas-Esteban Silvia Lenaerts Sara Bals Sammy W. Verbruggen |
| author_facet | Fons Dingenen Natan Blommaerts Myrthe Van Hal Rituraj Borah Daniel Arenas-Esteban Silvia Lenaerts Sara Bals Sammy W. Verbruggen |
| author_sort | Fons Dingenen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | To broaden the activity window of TiO<sub>2</sub>, a broadband plasmonic photocatalyst has been designed and optimized. This plasmonic ‘rainbow’ photocatalyst consists of TiO<sub>2</sub> modified with gold–silver composite nanoparticles of various sizes and compositions, thus inducing a broadband interaction with polychromatic solar light. However, these nanoparticles are inherently unstable, especially due to the use of silver. Hence, in this study the application of the layer-by-layer technique is introduced to create a protective polymer shell around the metal cores with a very high degree of control. Various TiO<sub>2</sub> species (pure anatase, PC500, and P25) were loaded with different plasmonic metal loadings (0–2 wt %) in order to identify the most solar active composite materials. The prepared plasmonic photocatalysts were tested towards stearic acid degradation under simulated sunlight. From all materials tested, P25 + 2 wt % of plasmonic ‘rainbow’ nanoparticles proved to be the most promising (56% more efficient compared to pristine P25) and was also identified as the most cost-effective. Further, 2 wt % of layer-by-layer-stabilized ‘rainbow’ nanoparticles were loaded on P25. These layer-by-layer-stabilized metals showed superior stability under a heated oxidative atmosphere, as well as in a salt solution. Finally, the activity of the composite was almost completely retained after 1 month of aging, while the nonstabilized equivalent lost 34% of its initial activity. This work shows for the first time the synergetic application of a plasmonic ‘rainbow’ concept and the layer-by-layer stabilization technique, resulting in a promising solar active, and long-term stable photocatalyst. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:19:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-62dfee3e3ae44ddfa4b91f17f7de2186 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:19:09Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-62dfee3e3ae44ddfa4b91f17f7de21862023-11-22T19:24:16ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912021-10-011110262410.3390/nano11102624Layer-by-Layer-Stabilized Plasmonic Gold-Silver Nanoparticles on TiO<sub>2</sub>: Towards Stable Solar Active PhotocatalystsFons Dingenen0Natan Blommaerts1Myrthe Van Hal2Rituraj Borah3Daniel Arenas-Esteban4Silvia Lenaerts5Sara Bals6Sammy W. Verbruggen7Sustainable Energy, Air & Water Technology (DuEL), University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, BelgiumSustainable Energy, Air & Water Technology (DuEL), University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, BelgiumSustainable Energy, Air & Water Technology (DuEL), University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, BelgiumSustainable Energy, Air & Water Technology (DuEL), University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, BelgiumNANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, BelgiumSustainable Energy, Air & Water Technology (DuEL), University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, BelgiumNANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, BelgiumSustainable Energy, Air & Water Technology (DuEL), University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, BelgiumTo broaden the activity window of TiO<sub>2</sub>, a broadband plasmonic photocatalyst has been designed and optimized. This plasmonic ‘rainbow’ photocatalyst consists of TiO<sub>2</sub> modified with gold–silver composite nanoparticles of various sizes and compositions, thus inducing a broadband interaction with polychromatic solar light. However, these nanoparticles are inherently unstable, especially due to the use of silver. Hence, in this study the application of the layer-by-layer technique is introduced to create a protective polymer shell around the metal cores with a very high degree of control. Various TiO<sub>2</sub> species (pure anatase, PC500, and P25) were loaded with different plasmonic metal loadings (0–2 wt %) in order to identify the most solar active composite materials. The prepared plasmonic photocatalysts were tested towards stearic acid degradation under simulated sunlight. From all materials tested, P25 + 2 wt % of plasmonic ‘rainbow’ nanoparticles proved to be the most promising (56% more efficient compared to pristine P25) and was also identified as the most cost-effective. Further, 2 wt % of layer-by-layer-stabilized ‘rainbow’ nanoparticles were loaded on P25. These layer-by-layer-stabilized metals showed superior stability under a heated oxidative atmosphere, as well as in a salt solution. Finally, the activity of the composite was almost completely retained after 1 month of aging, while the nonstabilized equivalent lost 34% of its initial activity. This work shows for the first time the synergetic application of a plasmonic ‘rainbow’ concept and the layer-by-layer stabilization technique, resulting in a promising solar active, and long-term stable photocatalyst.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/10/2624TiO<sub>2</sub>photocatalysissurface plasmon resonancelayer-by-layer stabilizationcore-shellsolar |
| spellingShingle | Fons Dingenen Natan Blommaerts Myrthe Van Hal Rituraj Borah Daniel Arenas-Esteban Silvia Lenaerts Sara Bals Sammy W. Verbruggen Layer-by-Layer-Stabilized Plasmonic Gold-Silver Nanoparticles on TiO<sub>2</sub>: Towards Stable Solar Active Photocatalysts Nanomaterials TiO<sub>2</sub> photocatalysis surface plasmon resonance layer-by-layer stabilization core-shell solar |
| title | Layer-by-Layer-Stabilized Plasmonic Gold-Silver Nanoparticles on TiO<sub>2</sub>: Towards Stable Solar Active Photocatalysts |
| title_full | Layer-by-Layer-Stabilized Plasmonic Gold-Silver Nanoparticles on TiO<sub>2</sub>: Towards Stable Solar Active Photocatalysts |
| title_fullStr | Layer-by-Layer-Stabilized Plasmonic Gold-Silver Nanoparticles on TiO<sub>2</sub>: Towards Stable Solar Active Photocatalysts |
| title_full_unstemmed | Layer-by-Layer-Stabilized Plasmonic Gold-Silver Nanoparticles on TiO<sub>2</sub>: Towards Stable Solar Active Photocatalysts |
| title_short | Layer-by-Layer-Stabilized Plasmonic Gold-Silver Nanoparticles on TiO<sub>2</sub>: Towards Stable Solar Active Photocatalysts |
| title_sort | layer by layer stabilized plasmonic gold silver nanoparticles on tio sub 2 sub towards stable solar active photocatalysts |
| topic | TiO<sub>2</sub> photocatalysis surface plasmon resonance layer-by-layer stabilization core-shell solar |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/10/2624 |
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