TiO2 films loaded with silver nanoparticles: control of multicolor photochromic behavior

Ag-TiO(2) films exhibiting multicolor photochromism were prepared by photoelectrochemical reduction of Ag(+) to Ag nanoparticles in nanoporous TiO(2) films under UV light. Color of the Ag-TiO(2) film, initially brownish-gray, changes under a colored visible light to the color of the light and reverts to brownish-gray under UV light. Their chromogenic properties were improved by simultaneous irradiation for Ag deposition with UV and blue lights to suppress the formation of anisotropic Ag particles. Nonvolatilization of a color image was also achieved by removing Ag(+) that was generated during the irradiation with a colored light. Once nonvolatilized, the image can be reproduced by UV light, even after the image is discolored under white light. This new effect evidenced that nanopores in the TiO(2) film determine the resonance wavelengths of the Ag particles, as their molds. In addition, solvatochromic behavior of the Ag-TiO(2) film proved that nanospaces left around the Ag nanoparticles affect the resonance wavelengths of the Ag particles.     

Electron transport in silver-semiconductor nanocomposite films exhibiting multicolor photochromism

In the multicolor photochromism of TiO2 nanoporous films loaded with photocatalytically deposited Ag nanoparticles, visible light-induced electron transfer from Ag to oxygen molecules plays an essential role. Here we examined the effect of TiO2 on the electron transfer. We found that not only photocatalytically deposited Ag, but also electrodeposited Ag and commercially available Ag nanoparticles in a nanoporous TiO2 film exhibit the multicolor photochromism. The electrodeposited Ag exhibits the multicolor photochromism also in a nanoporous ZnO film, but not in nanoporous indium-tin oxide (ITO) and SiO2 matrices. Photoelectrochemical measurements for the Ag-TiO2 nanocomposite elucidated that some of the photo-excited electrons on Ag are transferred to oxygen molecules via TiO2 and non-excited Ag. Thus, an n-type semiconductor plays an important role in the charge separation between the excited electrons and Ag+. Non-excited Ag on TiO2 also plays an important role in the charge separation and/or catalysis of oxygen reduction. Replacement of the non-excited Ag with Pt accelerated the electron transport from the photo-excited Ag to oxygen molecules and the photochromic behavior.     

Role of micro-structure and interfacial properties in the higher photocatalytic activity of TiO2-supported nanogold for methanol-assisted visible-light-induced splitting of water

This paper deals with the textural, microstructural and interfacial properties of Au/TiO(2) nanocomposites, in relation to their photocatalytic activity for splitting of water. TiO(2) samples of two different morphologies were employed for dispersing different cocatalysts, such as: Au, Pt, Ag or Cu, for the sake of comparison. The samples were characterized using powder XRD, XPS, UV-visible, thermoluminescence, SEM, HRTEM and SAED techniques. Compared to other metal/TiO(2) photocatalysts, Au/TiO(2) with an optimum gold loading of 1 wt% was found to exhibit considerably higher activity for visible light induced production of H(2) from splitting water in the presence of methanol. Further, the sol-gel prepared TiO(2) (s.TiO(2)), having spherical grains of 10-15 nm size, displayed better photoactivity than a Degussa P25 catalyst. The electron microscopy investigations on s.TiO(2) revealed significant heterogeneity in grain morphology of individual TiO(2) particles, exposure of the lattice planes, metal dispersion, and the interfacial metal/TiO(2) contacts. The gold particles were found to be in a better dispersed state. O(2) TPD experiments revealed that the gold nanoparticles and Au/TiO(2) interfaces may serve as distinct binding sites for adsorbate molecules. At the same time, our thermoluminescence measurements provide an insight into Au-induced new defect states that may facilitate the semiconductor-to-metal charge transfer transition. In conclusion, the superior photocatalytic activity of Au/TiO(2) may relate to the grain morphology of TiO(2), dispersion of gold particles, and the peculiar architecture of metal/oxide heterojunctions; giving rise in turn to augmented adsorption of reactant molecules and their interaction with the photo-generated e(-)/h(+) pair. The role played by methanol as a sacrificial reagent in photocatalytic splitting of water is discussed.     

Multilayered ordering of the metal nanoparticles in polymer thin films under photoirradiation

Interference light-induced photogeneration of metal nanoparticle in polymer films was explored. The nanoparticle was obtained from metal complex homogeneously dispersed in the film. Standing waves resulting from light interference were generated by irradiating nearly monochromatic light to the sample placed on a reflective substrate. During irradiation metal nanoparticles were developed by photoreduction of the metal complexes forming layers rich with particles. These nanoparticle-enriched layers were found to align in parallel to the reflective substrate, and they were separated from each other by a constant spacing. This layer spacing was varied by changing the wavelength and/or the incident angle of the irradiating light. The observed results show that the spatial distribution of the nanoparticles is determined by the optical interference within the film. Surprisingly, regions exist between the nanoparticle-enriched layers where the metal species are not detected. Such regions extends for distances larger than tens of nanometers. This means that the metal complexes initially homogeneously dispersed within the polymer were transported away from certain regions upon photoirradiation. The metal precursors are preferentially photoreduced into the metal nanoparticles at the constructive interference regions. The spatially varying consumption rates of the precursors are considered to lead a concentration gradient, thereby causing a directional diffusion of the unreduced precursors toward the regions where constructive interference occurs.     

Standing wave enhancement of red absorbance and photocurrent in dye-sensitized titanium dioxide photoelectrodes coupled to photonic crystals

The light harvesting efficiency of dye-sensitized photoelectrodes was enhanced by coupling a TiO(2) photonic crystal layer to a conventional film of TiO(2) nanoparticles. In addition to acting as a dielectric mirror, the inverse opal photonic crystal caused a significant change in dye absorbance which depended on the position of the stop band. Absorbance was suppressed at wavelengths shorter than the stop band maximum and was enhanced at longer wavelengths. This effect arises from the slow group velocity of light in the vicinity of the stop band, and the consequent localization of light intensity in the voids (to the blue) or in the dye-sensitized TiO(2) (to the red) portions of the photonic crystal. By coupling a photonic crystal to a film of TiO(2) nanoparticles, the short circuit photocurrent efficiency across the visible spectrum (400-750 nm) could be increased by about 26%, relative to an ordinary dye-sensitized nanocrystalline TiO(2) photoelectrode.     

Kinetic and mechanistic investigations of the light induced formation of gold nanoparticles on the surface of TiO2

The kinetics of the formation of gold nanoparticles on the surface of pre-illuminated TiO(2) have been investigated using stopped-flow technique and steady state UV/Vis spectroscopy. Excess electrons were loaded on the employed nanosized titanium dioxide particles by UV-A photolysis in the presence of methanol serving as hole scavenger, stored on them in the absence of oxygen and subsequently used for the reduction of Au(III) ions. The formation of gold nanoparticles with an average diameter of 5 nm was confirmed after mixing of the TiO(2) nanoparticles loaded with electrons with aqueous solution of tetrachloroaureate (HAuCl(4)) by their surface plasmon absorbance band at 530 nm, as well as by XRD and HRTEM measurements. The rate of formation of the gold nanoparticles was found to be a function of the concentration of the gold ions and the concentration of the stored electrons, respectively. The effect of PVA as a stabilizer of the gold nanoclusters was also studied. The observed kinetic behavior suggests that the formation of the gold nanoparticles on the TiO(2) surface is an autocatalytic process comprising of two main steps: 1) Reduction of the gold ions by the stored electrons on TiO(2) forming gold atoms that turn into gold nuclei. 2) Growth of the metal nuclei on the surface of TiO(2) forming the gold particles. Interestingly, at higher TiO(2) electron loading the excess electrons are subsequently transferred to the deposited gold metal particles resulting in "bleaching" of their surface plasmon band. This bleaching in the surface plasmon band is explained by the Fermi level equilibration of the Au/TiO(2) nanocomposites. Finally, the reduction of water resulting in the evolution of molecular hydrogen initiated by the excess electrons that have been transferred to the previously formed gold particles has also been observed. The mechanism of the underlying multistep electron-transfer process has been discussed in detail.     

Room-temperature preparation of nanocrystalline TiO2 films and the influence of surface properties on dye-sensitized solar energy conversion

An extremely easy method is presented for producing surfactant-free films of nanocrystalline TiO2 at room temperature with excellent mechanical stability when deposited on glass or plastic electrodes for dye-sensitized solar energy conversion. Prolonged magnetic stirring of commercial TiO2 nanoparticles (Degussa P25) in either ethanol or water results in highly homogeneous dispersions which are used to prepare TiO2 films with surface properties which depend on the solvent used for dispersing the particles, even after sintering. The optical and mechanical properties of films cast from ethanol and water dispersions are compared, and differences in the extent of surface defects and dye binding are observed. Optical absorption, photoluminescence, and resonance Raman spectra of TiO2 films sensitized with Ru(4,4'-dicarboxylic acid-2,2'-bipyridine)2(NCS)2 ("N3") reveal that the electronic coupling of the dye and semiconductor depends on the surface structure of the film which varies with film preparation. Current-voltage data for illuminated and dark dye-sensitized solar cells are obtained as a function of film preparation, and results are compared to spectroscopic data in order to interpret the microscopic basis for variations in solar cell performance, especially with regard to sintered versus unsintered TiO2 films. The results suggest that surface traps associated with oxygen vacancies play a critical role in determining the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar energy conversion through their influence on the binding and electronic coupling of the dye to the semiconductor.     

TiO2浓度对核-壳结构Ag/TiO2纳米复合粒子结构以及三阶非线性光学性质的影响

采用光还原方法制备了核-壳结构的Ag/TiO2纳米复合粒子, 通过TEM、UV-Vis光谱和XRD表征了不同TiO2浓度下Ag/TiO2纳米复合粒子的结构和光学性质. UV-Vis光谱证明了银颗粒的存在, 且复合粒子中的银粒径随着TiO2含量的增加而增加, 同时随着TiO2浓度的增加, 银的吸收峰出现明显的增强和展宽；从TEM照片 发现, Ag/TiO2纳米复合粒子是一种以Ag为核, 外面包覆一层TiO2的核-壳结构, TiO2浓度和Ag+浓度的增加, 使得复合粒子的银颗粒粒径增大. 用Z-扫描技术, 以锁模Ti:sapphire飞秒激光器发出的脉宽为130 fs激光做光源, 在790 nm波长的光作用下, 研究了0.5%(w)Ag+含量, 不同TiO2浓度的Ag/TiO2纳米复合粒子的非线性光学特性. 结果发现, 在790 nm激光作用下, 0.25%(w)TiO2样品膜有双光子吸收和自聚焦非线性折射现象; 而当TiO2浓度为0.70%(w)时, 样品膜的非线性吸收由反饱和吸收转变为饱和吸收.     

Preparation of highly uniform Ag/TiO2 and Au/TiO2 supported nanoparticle catalysts by photodeposition

Photodeposition of Ag nanoparticles on commercial TiO2 particles and nanoparticles was performed in order to provide direct visualization of the spatial distribution of photoactive sites on sub-micrometer-scale and nanoscale TiO2 particle surfaces and to create materials for potential catalytic applications. HRTEM (high-resolution transmission electron microscopy) and HAADF-STEM (high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy) were used to characterize these materials. The size and spatial distributions of the Ag nanoparticles on the commercial TiO2 were not uniform; the concentration of Ag was higher on grain boundaries and at the edges of these submicrometer particles. In the case of TiO2 nanoparticles, the size distribution of the Ag nanoparticles deposited was relatively uniform and independent of irradiation time and photon energy. The amount of Ag deposited on TiO2 nanoparticles was at least 6 times higher than that on the commercial samples for comparable irradiation conditions. Compared to the case of Ag photodeposition, the difference in the amount of Au photodeposited on TiO2 particles and nanoparticles was even greater, especially at low precursor concentrations. Photodeposition on TiO2 nanoparticles is suggested as a potential method for the preparation of Au/TiO2 catalysts, as loadings in excess of 10 wt % of uniform 1 nm metal particles were achieved in this work.     

Kinetic and mechanistic investigations of multielectron transfer reactions induced by stored electrons in TiO2 nanoparticles: a stopped flow study

The kinetics and the mechanism of various multielectron transfer reactions initiated by stored electrons in TiO(2) nanoparticles have been investigated employing the stopped flow technique. Moreover, the optical properties of the stored electrons in the TiO(2) nanoparticles have been studied in detail following the UV (A) photolysis of deaerated aqueous suspensions of TiO(2) nanoparticles in the presence of methanol. The reduction of common electron acceptors that are often present in photocatalytic systems such as O(2), H(2)O(2), and NO(3)(-) has been investigated. The experimental results clearly show that the stored electrons reduce O(2) and H(2)O(2) to water by multielectron transfer processes. Moreover, NO(3)(-) is reduced via the transfer of eight electrons evincing the formation of ammonia. On the other hand, the reduction of toxic metal ions, such as Cu(II), has been studied mixing their respective anoxic aqueous solutions with those containing the electrons stored in the TiO(2) particles. A two-electron transfer is found to occur, indicating the reduction of the copper metal ion into its non toxic metallic form. Other metal ions, such as Zn(II) and Mn(II), could not be reduced by TiO(2) electrons, which is readily explained on the bases of their respective redox potentials. The underlying reaction mechanisms are discussed in detail.     

金属氧化物(Fe2O3, CuO,NiO)改性对TiO2纳米管阵列光电催化活性的增强效应

采用阳极氧化法和阴极电沉积法制备了Fe2O3,CuO和NiO纳米粒子改性的高度有序的TiO2纳米管(TiO2-NT)阵列.运用场发射扫描电子显微镜(FE-SEM),透射电子显微镜(TEM),X射线衍射(XRD)和紫外-可见漫反射光谱等手段对Fe2O3/TiO2-NT、CuO/TiO2-NT和NiO/TiO2-NT复合电极进行表征.以苯酚为模拟污染物,考察复合电极的光电性能.结果表明,金属氧化物(Fe2O3,CuO,NiO)纳米粒子成功沉积在TiO2-NTs的管口、内壁和管底.金属氧化物改性复合电极的光电催化活性比未改性的TiO2-NTs提高了2倍以上.Fe2O3/TiO2-NTs在可见光区显示出最高的吸收强度.以Fe2O3/TiO2-NTs为阳极处理苯酚废水,光照120min后苯酚去除率达到96%,而未改性的TiO2-NTs的苯酚去除率只有41%.此外,Fe2O3/TiO2-NTs在生成低毒中间产物方面表现出良好的性能.较高的复合电极光电催化活性主要是由于TiO2纳米管和过渡金属氧化物纳米粒子间构筑的高界面面积异质纳米结构,有效地促进了电子转移,抑制了光生电子-空穴对的复合.     

The relationship between photocatalytic activity and photochromic state of nanoparticulate silver surface loaded titanium dioxide thin-films

Anatase titania thin-films were prepared by a modified spray-pyrolysis method. Glass substrates were coated at room temperature with an aerosol-spray of a titania sol-gel solution and then annealed at 500 °C to form rough, transparent, crystalline thin-films of anatase TiO(2). Silver nanoparticles were deposited on the surface of these films by a photo-assisted deposition method; films were dip-coated in methanolic solutions of silver nitrate salt and then photo-irradiated for 5 h with UVC light. The AgNO(3) concentration was adjusted to create an array of films with varying silver loadings. The films displayed photochromism; changing colour to orange-brown in UV-light to colourless under white light. The rates of photochromic change, when subjected to four different lighting conditions (UVC, UVA, white light and dark), were analysed by UV-visible spectroscopy. By assessing the photocatalytic activity to these light sources it was found that the initial photochromic state of the material had a profound effect on the films photocatalytic ability. This effect was more pronounced in the more concentrated silver loaded films; where significant enhancements in photoactivity occurred when reactions were initiated from the photo-reduced state. The mode of improved photocatalysis was attributed to the photo-generated electron trapping by silver nanoparticles, which stabilised photo-generated holes and drove photo-oxidation processes. We believe this is the first study in which the relationship between the photochromic state of a thin-film and its subsequent photocatalytic activity is reported.     

Enhanced TiO2 surface electrochemistry with carbonised layer-by-layer cellulose-PDDA composite films

In this report we demonstrate a versatile (and potentially low-cost) cellulose nano-whisker-based surface carbonisation method that allows well-defined films of TiO(2) nanoparticles surface-modified with carbon to be obtained. In a layer-by-layer electrostatic deposition process based on TiO(2) nanoparticles, cellulose nano-whiskers, and poly(diallyl-dimethylammonium) or PDDA are employed to control the ratio of surface carbon to TiO(2). Characterisation based on optical, AFM, XRD, and XPS methods is reported. Electrochemical measurements suggest improved access to surface states, dopamine binding at the anatase surface, and surface redox cycling aided by the thin amorphous carbon film in mesoporous TiO(2). In future, the amorphous carbon layer method could be applied for surface processes for a wider range of semiconductor or insulator surfaces.     

掺杂过渡金属离子的TiO2复合纳米粒子光催化剂──罗丹明B的光催化降解

在悬浮液体系中进行的半导体光催化降解反应中,催化剂的导带电子(或被俘获到半导体表面的电子)还原电解质溶液的O2分子(受主)是反应的决速步骤,O2分子接受电子后形成的超氧自由基O2-或羟基自由基HO·具有很强的氧化能力,能将污梁物氧化降解[13].     

Gold nanoparticle-decorated keggin ions/TiO2 photococatalyst for improved solar light photocatalysis

We demonstrate a facile localized reduction approach to synthesizing a Au nanoparticle-decorated Keggin ion/TiO(2) photococatalyst for improved solar light photocatalysis application. This has been achieved by exploiting the ability of TiO(2)-bound Keggin ions to act as a UV-switchable, highly localized reducing agent. Notably, the approach proposed here does not lead to contamination of the resultant cocatalyst with free metal nanoparticles during aqueous solution-based synthesis. The study shows that for Keggin ions (phosphotungstic acid, PTA), being photoactive molecules, the presence of both Au nanoparticles and PTA on the TiO(2) surface in a cocatalytic system can have a dramatic effect on increasing the photocatalytic performance of the composite system, as opposed to a TiO(2) surface directly decorated with metal nanoparticles without a sandwiched PTA layer. The remarkable increase in the photocatalytic performance of these materials toward the degradation of a model organic Congo red dye correlates to an increase of 2.7-fold over that of anatase TiO(2) after adding Au to it and 4.3-fold after introducing PTA along with Au to it. The generalized localized reduction approach to preparing TiO(2)-PTA-Au cocatalysts reported here can be further extended to other similar systems, wherein a range of metal nanoparticles in the presence of different Keggin ions can be utilized. The composites reported here may have wide potential implications toward the degradation of organic species and solar cell applications.     

Photoinduced dissolution and redeposition of Au nanoparticles supported on TiO2

Au particles (mean size ca. 3 nm) supported on TiO(2) particles were irradiated by UV light (>300 nm) in aqueous solutions at 278 K. Photo-induced dissolution of Au nanoparticles followed by redeposition occurred in aqueous solutions containing halogen ions. The dissolution of Au nanoparticles yielded a Au(III) complex with a halogen ion; subsequent reduction of the Au(III) complex caused precipitation of larger Au particles on TiO(2).     

Formation and properties of composites based on microgels of a responsive polymer and TiO2 nanoparticles

Organic-inorganic composites were prepared with titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles embedded within colloidal particles of a cross-linked, thermally responsive polymer. To promote the incorporation of unaggregated nanoparticles of TiO2, temperature responsive microspherical gels (microgels) of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) with interpenetrating (IP) linear chains of poly(acrylic acid) (PAAc) were synthesized. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements revealed that these microgels reversibly shrink and swell in diameter from 300-400 nm to 600-800 nm with temperature. Two types of nanoparticles of TiO2 were immobilized within the IP-microgels-fine TiO2 nanoparticles synthesized by the hydrolysis of titanium(IV) isopropoxide and commercially available Degussa P25. Characterization of the composite was conducted using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy from which it was determined that the extent of loading of the TiO2 within the colloidal particles can be easily manipulated from a low value of 10% (weight) to a value as high as 75%. The TiO2 nanoparticles were in a dispersed state within the microgels and the composites showed rapid (approximately minutes) sedimentation, which is useful for gravity separations. By using turbidometry to characterize the settling behavior of the organic-inorganic composites, it was found that the settling time decreases as the content of TiO2 increases within the particles.     

Role of Fe doping in tuning the band gap of TiO2 for the photo-oxidation-induced cytotoxicity paradigm

UV-light-induced electron-hole (e(-)/h(+)) pair generation with free radical production in TiO(2)-based nanoparticles is a major conceptual paradigm for biological injury. However, to date, this hypothesis has been difficult to experimentally verify due to the high energy of UV light that is intrinsically highly toxic to biological systems. Here, a versatile flame spray pyrolysis (FSP) synthetic process has been exploited to synthesize a library of iron-doped (0-10 wt%) TiO(2) nanoparticles. These particles have been tested for photoactivation-mediated cytotoxicity using near-visible light exposure. The reduction in TiO(2) band gap energy with incremental levels of Fe loading maintained the nanoparticle crystalline structure in spite of homogeneous Fe distribution (demonstrated by XRD, HRTEM, SAED, EFTEM, and EELS). Photochemical studies showed that band gap energy was reciprocally tuned proportional to the Fe content. The photo-oxidation capability of Fe-doped TiO(2) was found to increase during near-visible light exposure. Use of a macrophage cell line to evaluate cytotoxic and ROS production showed increased oxidant injury and cell death in parallel with a decrease in band gap energy. These findings demonstrate the importance of band gap energy in the phototoxic response of the cell to TiO(2) nanoparticles and reflect the potential of this material to generate adverse effects in humans and the environment during high-intensity light exposure.     

Photocatalytic polypyrrole-TiO2-nanoparticles composite thin film generated at the air-water interface

Herein, we report a new method of generation of TiO(2) nanoparticles (NPs) incorporated thin films of polypyrrole (PPy) at the air-water interface. Aqueous TiO(2) NPs when treated with H(2)O(2) and left in a chamber of pyrrole vapor resulted in the formation of a film at the interface, in addition to bulk precipitate. Spectroscopic, X-ray diffraction, and electron microscopic measurements establish the formation of a thin film of PPy with the incorporation of TiO(2) NPs. The TiO(2)-containing PPy films when transferred onto glass substrates were able to photo catalyze the decomposition of aqueous organic dyes: methyl orange and methylene blue. Further, these films could also photo catalyze the oxidation of iodide to triiodide ions in aqueous potassium iodide solution. We find that the PPy-TiO(2) composite films catalyze the reactions in the presence of light more efficiently than a suspension of TiO(2) NPs.     

Gold nanoparticles located at the interface of anatase/rutile TiO2 particles as active plasmonic photocatalysts for aerobic oxidation

Visible-light irradiation (λ > 450 nm) of gold nanoparticles loaded on a mixture of anatase/rutile TiO(2) particles (Degussa, P25) promotes efficient aerobic oxidation at room temperature. The photocatalytic activity critically depends on the catalyst architecture: Au particles with <5 nm diameter located at the interface of anatase/rutile TiO(2) particles behave as the active sites for reaction. This photocatalysis is promoted via plasmon activation of the Au particles by visible light followed by consecutive electron transfer in the Au/rutile/anatase contact site. The activated Au particles transfer their conduction electrons to rutile and then to adjacent anatase TiO(2). This catalyzes the oxidation of substrates by the positively charged Au particles along with reduction of O(2) by the conduction band electrons on the surface of anatase TiO(2). This plasmonic photocatalysis is successfully promoted by sunlight exposure and enables efficient and selective aerobic oxidation of alcohols at ambient temperature.