Metal-Particle-Decorated ZnO Nanocrystals: Photocatalysis and Charge Dynamics

Preparation of ZnO@TiO2 nanotubes heterostructured film by thermal decomposition and their photocatalytic performances

TiO2 nanotubes (NTs) arrays prepared by anodic oxidation were modified with ZnO particles and their morphology and photocatalytic properties were investigated. A simple thermal decomposition process was involved in the modification method. Zinc acetate solution was filled into the TiO2 NTs arrays, and ZnO@TiO2 heterojunction films were formed after the thermal treatment. The morphology and catalytic properties of the heterojunction films could be manipulated by the concentration of zinc acetate solution. Compared to TiO2 NTs arrays, the ZnO@TiO2 heterojunction films with an optimized concentration of zinc acetate showed enhanced catalytic performances. Their photocatalytic activities were discussed with respect to the formation of ZnO@TiO2 heterojunctions and enforced charge separation. This study demonstrates a simple method to prepare ZnO nanoparticles@TiO2 NT heterojunction films, which is promising for other environmental and energy related applications.

Decoration of metal oxide surface with {111} form Au nanoparticles using PEGylation

The benefit of introducing gold nanoparticles is due to the plasmon relaxation process. The plasmon decay induces various phenomena such as near-field enhancement, hot electron injection, and resonance energy transfer. Shape-controlled octahedral gold nanoparticles can maximize the efficiency of these processes. For practical purposes, a high-coverage decoration method, comparable to physical vapor deposition on a metal oxide semiconductor nanostructure, is indispensable. However, the ligand exchange reaction to attach octahedral gold nanoparticles is limited in aqueous solution due to the inactivity of the gold (111) surface as a result of a densely-packed cetyltrimethylammonium bilayer structure. Herein, we report a controllable high-coverage surface decoration method of octahedral gold nanoparticles on the targeted semiconductor nanostructures via phase transfer by an organic medium with thiolated-polyethylene glycol. Our results deliver an innovative platform for future plasmonic gold nanoparticle applications.

Phase transfer in the ethanol-dichloromethane medium extinguished the limitation of the ligand exchange reaction on the gold (111) surface. High-coverage octahedral Au NP decoration on metal oxide semiconductors is achieved by the process.

Hierarchical TiO2 nanowire/microflower photoanode modified with Au nanoparticles for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting

The 3D architecture of H-TiO₂ and incorporation of Au NPs contribute to the excellent PEC performance of Au/H-TiO₂-based photoanodes.

Synergistically enhanced photocatalysis from plasmonics and a co-catalyst in Au@ZnO–Pd ternary core–shell nanostructures

Ternary core–shell nanostructures of Au@ZnO–Pd have been designed to achieve the synergetic utilization of a plasmonic effect and a co-catalyst for enhanced photocatalytic performance.