Chiral Carbonaceous Nanotubes Modified with Titania Nanocrystals: Plasmon‐Free and Recyclable SERS Sensitivity

Chiral carbonaceous nanotubes (CNT) were successfully used in plasmon‐free surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for the first time. Further modification of TiO₂ nanocrystals on the chiral CNTs successfully realized the recycling of SERS substrate as chiral CNT/TiO₂ hybrids. The high SERS sensitivity of methylene blue (MB) over the chiral CNT/TiO₂ hybrids is ascribed to the laser‐driven birefringence induced by the helical structure, which provides much more opportunities for the occurrence of Raman scattering. The TiO₂ nanocrystals highly dispersed on the surface and inside the hollow cavity of chiral CNTs can completely degrade the MB under the solar light irradiation, leading to the self‐cleaning of SERS substrate. The present research opens a new way for the application of chiral inorganic materials in plasmon‐free SERS detection.     

Visible‐Light‐Induced Electron Transport from Small to Large Nanoparticles in Bimodal Gold Nanoparticle‐Loaded Titanium(IV) Oxide

A key to realizing the sustainable society is to develop highly active photocatalysts for selective organic synthesis effectively using sunlight as the energy source. Recently, metal‐oxide‐supported gold nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as a new type of visible‐light photocatalysts driven by the excitation of localized surface plasmon resonance of Au NPs. Here we show that visible‐light irradiation (λ>430 nm) of TiO₂‐supported Au NPs with a bimodal size distribution (BM‐Au/TiO₂) gives rise to the long‐range (>40 nm) electron transport from about 14 small (ca. 2 nm) Au NPs to one large (ca. 9 nm) Au NP through the conduction band of TiO₂. As a result of the enhancement of charge separation, BM‐Au/TiO₂ exhibits a high level of visible‐light activity for the one‐step synthesis of azobenzenes from nitrobenzenes at 25 °C with a yield greater than 95 % and a selectivity greater than 99 %, whereas unimodal Au/TiO₂ (UM‐Au/TiO₂) is photocatalytically inactive.     

Tuning the Surface Structure of Nitrogen‐Doped TiO2 Nanofibres—An Effective Method to Enhance Photocatalytic Activities of Visible‐Light‐Driven Green Synthesis and Degradation

Nitrogen‐doped TiO₂ nanofibres of anatase and TiO₂(B) phases were synthesised by a reaction between titanate nanofibres of a layered structure and gaseous NH₃ at 400–700 °C, following a different mechanism than that for the direct nitrogen doping from TiO₂. The surface of the N‐doped TiO₂ nanofibres can be tuned by facial calcination in air to remove the surface‐bonded N species, whereas the core remains N doped. N‐Doped TiO₂ nanofibres, only after calcination in air, became effective photocatalysts for the decomposition of sulforhodamine B under visible‐light irradiation. The surface‐oxidised surface layer was proven to be very effective for organic molecule adsorption, and the activation of oxygen molecules, whereas the remaining N‐doped interior of the fibres strongly absorbed visible light, resulting in the generation of electrons and holes. The N‐doped nanofibres were also used as supports of gold nanoparticle (Au NP) photocatalysts for visible‐light‐driven hydroamination of phenylacetylene with aniline. Phenylacetylene was activated on the N‐doped surface of the nanofibres and aniline on the Au NPs. The Au NPs adsorbed on N‐doped TiO₂(B) nanofibres exhibited much better conversion (80 % of phenylacetylene) than when adsorbed on undoped fibres (46 %) at 40 °C and 95 % of the product is the desired imine. The surface N species can prevent the adsorption of O₂ that is unfavourable for the hydroamination reaction, and thus, improve the photocatalytic activity. Removal of the surface N species resulted in a sharp decrease of the photocatalytic activity. These photocatalysts are feasible for practical applications, because they can be easily dispersed into solution and separated from a liquid by filtration, sedimentation or centrifugation due to their fibril morphology.     

Template‐free Fabrication of Hierarchical Macro‐/mesoporous N‐doped TiO2/graphene Oxide Composites with Enhanced Visible‐light Photocatalytic Activity

Hierarchical macro‐/mesoporous N‐doped TiO₂/graphene oxide (N‐TiO₂/GO) composites were prepared without using templates by the simple dropwise addition mixed solution of tetrabutyl titanate and ethanol containg graphene oxide (GO) to the ammonia solution, and then calcined at 350 °C. The as‐prepared samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller (BET) surface area, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV‐Vis absorption spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange in an aqueous solution under visible‐light irradiation. The results show that N‐TiO₂/GO composites exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity. GO content exhibited an obvious influence on photocatalytic performance, and the optimal GO addition content was 1 wt%. The enhanced photocatalytic activity could be attributed to the synergetic effects of three factors including the improved visible light absorption, the hierarchical macro‐mesoporous structure, and the efficient charge separation by GO.     

Microwave‐Hydrothermal Preparation and Visible‐Light Photoactivity of Plasmonic Photocatalyst Ag‐TiO2 Nanocomposite Hollow Spheres

Visible‐light‐driven plasmonic photocatalyst Ag‐TiO₂ nanocomposite hollow spheres are prepared by a template‐free chemically‐induced self‐transformation strategy under microwave‐hydrothermal conditions, followed by a photochemical reduction process under xenon lamp irradiation. The prepared samples are characterized by using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, N₂ adsorption‐desorption isotherms, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV/Vis and Raman spectroscopy. Production of ?OH radicals on the surface of visible‐light illuminated TiO₂ was detected by using a photoluminescence method with terephthalic acid as the probe molecule. The photocatalytic activity of as‐prepared samples was evaluated by photocatalytic decolorization of Rhodamine B (RhB) aqueous solution at ambient temperature under visible‐light irradiation. The results show that the surface plasmon absorption band of the silver nanoparticles supported on the TiO₂ hollow spheres was red shifted, and a strong surface enhanced Raman scattering effect for the Ag‐TiO₂ nanocomposite sample was observed. The prepared nanocomposite hollow spheres exhibits a highly visible‐light photocatalytic activity for photocatalytic degradation of RhB in water, and their photocatalytic activity is higher than that of pure TiO₂ and commercial Degussa P25 (P25) powders. Especially, the as‐prepared Ag‐TiO₂ nanocomposite hollow spheres at the nominal atomic ratio of silver to titanium ( R ) of 2 showed the highest photocatalytic activity, which exceeds that of P25 by a factor of more than 2.     

Multifunctional Ag‐Decorated Porous TiO2 Nanofibers in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells: Efficient Light Harvesting,Light Scattering,and Electrolyte Contact

Designing the photoanode structure in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is vital to realizing enhanced power conversion efficiency (PCE). Herein, novel multifunctional silver‐decorated porous titanium dioxide nanofibers (Ag/pTiO₂ NFs) made by simple electrospinning, etching, and chemical reduction processes are introduced. The Ag/pTiO₂ NFs with a high surface area of 163 m² g^?1 provided sufficient dye adsorption for light harvesting. Moreover, the approximately 200 nm diameter and rough surface of the Ag/pTiO₂ NFs offered enough light scattering, and the enlarged interpores among the NFs in the photoanode also permitted electrolyte circulation. Ag nanoparticles (NPs) were well dispersed on the surface of the TiO₂ NFs, which prevented aggregation of the Ag NPs after calcination. Furthermore, a localized surface plasmon resonance effect by the Ag NPs served to increase the light absorption at visible wavelengths. The surface area and amount of Ag NPs was optimized. The PCE of pTiO₂ NF‐based DSSCs was 27 % higher (from 6.2 to 7.9 %) than for pure TiO₂ NFs, whereas the PCE of Ag/pTiO₂ NF‐based DSSCs increased by about 12 % (from 7.9 to 8.8 %). Thus, the PCE of the multifunctional pTiO₂ NFs was improved by 42 %, that is, from 6.2 to 8.8 %.     

Surface Plasmon Resonance‐Enhanced Visible‐NIR‐Driven Photocatalytic and Photothermal Catalytic Performance by Ag/Mesoporous Black TiO2 Nanotube Heterojunctions

Ag/mesoporous black TiO₂ nanotubes heterojunctions (Ag‐MBTHs) were fabricated through a surface hydrogenation, wet‐impregnation and photoreduction strategy. The as‐prepared Ag‐MBTHs possess a relatively high specific surface area of ≈85 m² g^?1 and an average pore size of ≈13.2 nm. The Ag‐MBTHs with a narrow band gap of ≈2.63 eV extend the photoresponse from UV to the visible‐light and near‐infrared (NIR) region. They exhibit excellent visible‐NIR‐driven photothermal catalytic and photocatalytic performance for complete conversion of nitro aromatic compounds (100 %) and mineralization of highly toxic phenol (100 %). The enhancement can be attributed to the mesoporous hollow structures increasing the light multi‐refraction, the Ti³⁺ in frameworks and the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect of plasmonic Ag nanoparticles favoring light‐harvesting and spatial separation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs, which is confirmed by transient fluorescence. The fabrication of this SPR‐enhanced visible‐NIR‐driven Ag‐MBTHs catalyst may provide new insights for designing other high‐performance heterojunctions as photocatalytic and photothermal catalytic nanomaterials.     

The Visible‐Light Photocatalytic Activity and Antibacterial Performance of Ag/AgBr/TiO2 Immobilized on Activated Carbon

Visible‐light‐driven Ag/AgBr/TiO₂/activated carbon (AC) composite was prepared by solgel method coupled with photoreduction method. For comparison, TiO₂, TiO₂/AC, and Ag/AgBr/TiO₂ were also synthesized. Their characteristics were analyzed by XRD, SEM‐EDS, TG‐DSC and UV–vis techniques. Photocatalytic activity and antibacterial performance under visible‐light irradiation were investigated by ICP‐AES, ATR‐FT‐IR and spectrophotometry methods using methylene blue and Escherichia coli as target systems, respectively. The results showed that Ag/AgBr was successfully deposited on anatase TiO₂/AC surface, and exhibited a distinct light absorption in the visible region. Ag/AgBr/TiO₂/AC displayed excellent antibacterial performance both in dark and under visible‐light illumination. The growth of E. coli cell was inhibited in the presence of Ag/AgBr/TiO₂/AC in dark. Moreover, upon visible‐light illumination, a significant damage of cell membrane was noticed. Ag/AgBr/TiO₂/AC was also shown higher photocatalytic efficiency for methylene blue degradation than those of TiO₂, TiO₂/AC, and Ag/AgBr/TiO₂. This is attributed to the synergetic effect between AC and Ag/AgBr/TiO₂, of which AC acts as the role of increasing reaction areas, continuous enriching, and transferring the adsorbed MB molecules to the surface of supported photocatalysts, and the Ag/AgBr/TiO₂ acts as a highly active photocatalyst for degrading MB molecules under visible‐light irradiation.     

Synthesis and Study of Plasmon‐Induced Carrier Behavior at Ag/TiO2 Nanowires

Nanocomposites of Ag/TiO₂ nanowires with enhanced photoelectrochemical performance have been prepared by a facile solvothermal synthesis of TiO₂ nanowires and subsequent photoreduction of Ag⁺ ions to Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the TiO₂ nanowires. The as‐prepared nanocomposites exhibited significantly improved cathodic photocurrent responses under visible‐light illumination, which is attributed to the local electric field enhancement of plasmon resonance effect near the TiO₂ surface rather than by the direct transfer of charge between the two materials. The visible‐light‐driven photocatalytic performance of these nanocomposites in the degradation of methylene blue dye was also studied, and the observed improvement in photocatalytic activity is associated with the extended light absorption range and efficient charge separation due to surface plasmon resonance effect of AgNPs.     

A Simple Method for the Preparation of TiO2/Ag‐AgCl@Polypyrrole Composite and Its Enhanced Visible‐Light Photocatalytic Activity

A novel and facile method was developed to prepare a visible‐light driven TiO₂/Ag‐AgCl@polypyrrole (PPy) photocatalyst with Ag‐AgCl nanoparticles supported on TiO₂ nanofibers and covered by a thin PPy shell. During the synthesis, the PPy shell and Ag‐AgCl nanoparticles were prepared simultaneously onto TiO₂ nanofibers, which simplified the preparation procedure. In addition, because Ag‐AgCl aggregates were fabricated via partly etching the Ag nanoparticles, their size was well controlled at the nanoscale, which was beneficial for improvement of the contact surface area. Compared with reference photocatalysts, the TiO₂/Ag‐AgCl@PPy composite exhibited an enhanced photodegradation activity towards rhodamine B under visible‐light irradiation. The superior photocatalytic property originated from synergistic effects between TiO₂ nanofibers, Ag‐AgCl nanoparticles and the PPy shell. Furthermore, the TiO₂/Ag‐AgCl@PPy composite could be easily separated and recycled without obvious reduction in activity.     

Multiple plasmonic effect on photocurrent generation of metal‐loaded titanium dioxide composite/dye films on gold grating surface

We demonstrate the multiple plasmonic effect on the photocurrent properties of photoanodes containing Ag or Au nanoparticles (NPs) loaded onto titanium dioxide film (Ag–TiO₂ or Au–TiO₂) on Au grating surfaces. Ag–TiO₂ or Au–TiO₂ nanocomposite particles are prepared by a flame spray pyrolysis route. The structures and morphologies of the prepared products are characterized by high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy. The Ag–TiO₂ or Au–TiO₂ composite NPs are deposited by spin coating onto the Au grating surfaces. The photoanode electrode is a layered structure of blu‐ray disc‐recordable grating substrate/Au/Ag (or Au)–TiO₂/dye/electrolyte/indium‐tin oxide. The plasmonic effect is induced when Ag or Au NPs are located within the propagating surface plasmon (SP) field on the Au grating surface. The short‐circuit photocurrent is increased by exciting the grating‐coupled propagating SP on the Au gratings and is further enhanced by positioning the Ag or Au NPs within the grating‐coupled SP field. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A New p‐Metal‐n Structure AgBr‐Ag‐BiOBr with Superior Visible‐Light‐Responsive Catalytic Performance

A novel visible‐light‐driven AgBr‐Ag‐BiOBr photocatalyst was synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method. Taking advantage of both p‐n heterojunctions and localized surface plasmon resonance, the p‐metal‐n structure exhibited a superior performance concerning degradation of methyl orange under visible‐light irradiation (λ>420 nm). A possible photodegradation mechanism in the presence of AgBr‐Ag‐BiOBr composites was proposed, and the radical species involved in the degradation reaction were investigated. HO₂^?/^?O₂^? played the same important role as ^?OH in the AgBr‐Ag‐BiOBr photocatalytic system, and both the electron and hole were fully used for degradation of organic pollutants. A dual role of metallic Ag in the photocatalysis was proposed, one being surface plasmon resonance and the other being an electron‐hole bridge. Due to the distinctive p‐metal‐n structure, the visible‐light absorption, the separation of photogenerated carriers and the photocatalysis efficiency were greatly enhanced.     

Visible‐light photocatalytic activity of Ag@MIL‐125(Ti) microspheres

Ag nanoparticle (NP)‐decorated MIL‐125(Ti) microspheres (Ag@MIL‐125(Ti)) were firstly fabricated via a facile hydrothermal and following photo‐reduction method. The photocatalysts were characterized using X‐ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopies, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The characterization results indicated that Ag NPs were dispersed on the surface of MIL‐125(Ti) microspheres, and the Ag NPs had a uniform diameter of about 40 nm. The composites exhibited excellent visible‐light absorption, due to the modification with the Ag NPs. The photocatalytic activity for the visible‐light‐promoted degradation of Rhodamine B was improved through the optimization of the amount of Ag loaded as a co‐catalyst, this amount being determined as 3 wt%. Additionally, studies performed using radical scavengers indicated that O₂^? and e^? served as the main reactive species. The catalyst can be reused at least five times without significant loss of its catalytic activity. Furthermore, a photocatalytic mechanism for degradation of organics over Ag@MIL‐125(Ti) is also proposed. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fullerol–Titania Charge‐Transfer‐Mediated Photocatalysis Working under Visible Light

The development of visible‐light‐active photocatalysts is being investigated through various approaches. In this study, C₆₀‐based sensitized photocatalysis that works through the charge transfer (CT) mechanism is proposed and tested as a new approach. By employing the water‐soluble fullerol (C₆₀(OH)_x) instead of C₆₀, we demonstrate that the adsorbed fullerol activates TiO₂ under visible‐light irradiation through the “surface–complex CT” mechanism, which is largely absent in the C₆₀/TiO₂ system. Although fullerene and its derivatives have often been utilized in TiO₂‐based photochemical conversion systems as an electron transfer relay, their successful photocatalytic application as a visible‐light sensitizer of TiO₂ is not well established. Fullerol/TiO₂ exhibits marked visible photocatalytic activity not only for the redox conversion of 4‐chlorophenol, I^?, and Cr^VI, but also for H₂ production. The photoelectrode of fullerol/TiO₂ also generates an enhanced anodic photocurrent under visible light as compared with the electrodes of bare TiO₂ and C₆₀/TiO₂, which confirms that the visible‐light‐induced electron transfer from fullerol to TiO₂ is particularly enhanced. The surface complexation of fullerol/TiO₂ induced a visible absorption band around 400–500 nm, which was extinguished when the adsorption of fullerol was inhibited by fluorination of the surface of TiO₂. The transient absorption spectroscopic measurement gave an absorption spectrum ascribed to fullerol radical cations (fullerol^.+) the generation of which should be accompanied by the proposed CT. The theoretical calculation regarding the absorption spectra for the (TiO₂ cluster+fullerol) model also confirmed the proposed CT, which involves excitation from HOMO (fullerol) to LUMO (TiO₂ cluster) as the origin of the visible‐light absorption.     

Biocompatible Triplex Ag@SiO2@mTiO2 Core–Shell Nanoparticles for Simultaneous Fluorescence‐SERS Bimodal Imaging and Drug Delivery

Herein, we report the synthesis of biocompatible triplex Ag@SiO₂@mTiO₂ core–shell nanoparticles (NPs) for simultaneous fluorescence‐surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (F‐SERS) bimodal imaging and drug delivery. Stable Raman signals were created by typical SERS tags that were composed of Ag NPs for optical enhancement, a reporter molecule of 4‐mercaptopyridine (4‐Mpy) for a spectroscopic signature, and a silica shell for protection. A further coating of mesoporous titania (mTiO₂) on the SERS tags offered high loading capacity for a fluorescence dye (flavin mononucleotide) and an anti‐cancer drug (doxorubicin (DOX)), thereby endowing the material with fluorescence‐imaging and therapeutic functions. The as‐prepared F‐SERS dots exhibited strong fluorescence when excited by light at 460 nm whilst a stable, characteristic 4‐Mpy SERS signal was detected when the excitation wavelength was changed to longer wavelength (632.8 nm), both in solution and after incorporation inside living cells. Their excellent biocompatibility was demonstrated by low cytotoxicity against MCF‐7 cells, even at a high concentration of 100 μg mL^?1. In vitro cell cytotoxicity confirmed that DOX‐loaded F‐SERS dots had a comparable or even greater therapeutic effect compared with the free drug, owing to the increased cell‐uptake, which was attributed to the possible endocytosis mechanism of the NPs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first proof‐of‐concept investigation on a multifunctional nanomedicine that possessed a combined capacity for fast and multiplexed F‐SERS labeling as well as drug‐loading for cancer therapy.     

Effect of TiO2 on Altering Direction of Interfacial Charge Transfer in a TiO2‐Ag‐MPY‐FePc System by SERS

Interfacial charge transfer (CT) is of interest owing to its effect on the performance of molecular photovoltaic (PV) devices. The characteristics and structures of interfacial materials, such as TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) in some solar cells, are employed to adjust the CT process. In this study, three kinds of interfacial systems, including a solar cell‐like TiO₂‐Ag‐ p‐mercaptopyridine (MPY)‐ iron phthalocyanine (FePc) system, are compared to investigate the interfacial CT process using surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. The SERS results show the significance of TiO₂ NPs in the system on altering the direction and path of the interfacial CT, which is closely associated with the CT enhancement contribution to SERS in such an interfacial system. SERS spectroscopy is expected to be a promising technique for the exploration and estimation of the interfacial CT behavior in PV devices, which may further extend the applications of SERS in the field of solar cells.     

Three‐Dimensional Ordered Assembly of Thin‐Shell Au/TiO2 Hollow Nanospheres for Enhanced Visible‐Light‐Driven Photocatalysis

An Au/TiO₂ nanostructure was constructed to obtain a highly efficient visible‐light‐driven photocatalyst. The design was based on a three‐dimensional ordered assembly of thin‐shell Au/TiO₂ hollow nanospheres (Au/TiO₂‐3 DHNSs). The designed photocatalysts exhibit not only a very high surface area but also photonic behavior and multiple light scattering, which significantly enhances visible‐light absorption. Thus Au/TiO₂‐3 DHNSs exhibit a visible‐light‐driven photocatalytic activity that is several times higher than conventional Au/TiO₂ nanopowders.     

Visible Light Photocatalytic Activity of Pt/N‐TiO2 towards Enhanced H2 Production from Water Splitting

Present work mainly focuses on experimental investigation to improvement of hydrogen production by water photoelectrolysis. An experimental facility was designed and constructed for visible light photocatalysis. A series of N‐TiO₂ photocatalysts impregnated with platinum on the surface of N‐TiO₂ were prepared. Hydrogen production upon irradiating aqueous Pt/N‐TiO₂ suspension with visible light was investigated. The shift in excitation wavelength of TiO₂ was 380 nm improved the yield of hydrogen production by N‐TiO₂ and Pt/N‐TiO₂. We used a 400 W mercury arc lamp combined with a 400 nm cutoff filter eliminating all the wavelengths under 400 nm. Pt/N‐TiO₂ material was characterized with TPR, reflective UV/Visible spectroscopy and TEM. The best hydrogen production rate obtained for this setup for N/Ti = 10, 0.05 wt% Pt/N‐TiO₂, through water splitting was about 772 μmolh^?1g^?1.     

Ag‐Enhanced TiO2–x/C Composites with Metal‐Organic Frameworks as Precursors for Photodegradation of Methyl Blue

A series of Ag‐enhanced TiO_2–x/C composites (Ag/TiO_2–x/C composites) with metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) as precursors were prepared, and their photocatalytic activities were evaluated by the UV‐light driven photodegradation behaviors of methyl blue (MB). The as‐obtained samples were characterized by several techniques such as SEM, XRD, N₂‐adsorption, XPS, UV/Vis spectrophotometry and UV/Vis diffuse‐reflectance spectra. The best photocatalytic performance was achieved in Ag/TiO_2–x/C composite pyrolyzed at 1000 °C (ATC‐P10) due to rapid capture of electrons caused by silver doping, higher density of TiO_2–x lattice oxygen vacancies for better trapping of electrons, and high surface area due to reduction and evaporation of metallic Zn. No obvious deactivation was observed after 10 cycles of UV‐light degradation of MB under the same experimental conditions. This report reveals a new approach to prepare stable and highly efficient UV‐light‐driven photocatalysts for organic pollutants in water.     

Dual‐Mode Controlled Self‐Assembly of TiO2 Nanoparticles Through a Cucurbit[8]uril‐Enhanced Radical Cation Dimerization Interaction

The realization of controllable multicomponent self‐assembly through reversible supramolecular interactions is a challenging goal, and is an important strategy for the fabrication of switchable nanomaterials. Herein we show that the self‐assembly of TiO₂ nanoparticles (NP) functionalized with methyl viologen can be controlled both by light irradiation and chemical reduction through cucurbit[8]uril‐enhanced radical cation dimerization interactions. Moreover, the controlled assembly and disassembly of this system are accompanied by switchable photocatalytic activity of the TiO₂ NPs, which shows potential application as a novel smart and recyclable photocatalyst.