A Triptych Photocatalyst Based on the Co-Integration of Ag Nanoparticles and Carbo-Benzene Dye into a TiO 2 Thin Film
Résumé
This work proposes a new efficient, long-lasting scalable and low-cost triptych photocatalyst by assembling a semiconductor thin film (planar anatase TiO2), a photosensitive molecule of the carbo-benzene (Cbz) family and plasmonic Ag nanoparticles with exquisite degree of intimacy with the semiconductor. Under simulated sunlight conditions over 48 h, the triptych TiO2/Ag/Cbz photocatalyst allows a hydrogen production rate of 0.18 mmol gphotocatalyst−1 h−1 in conditions of applicative pressure (2.2 bars) and temperature (ambient) suitable for commercial applications. A ternary synergy (~33%) for hydrogen production is clearly evidenced with the triptych material in comparison with the diptych counterpart.
The role of each component (TiO2, Ag and Cbz) on the H2 production is investigated systematically by discriminating the light absorption from the different materials and interfaces. We show how to achieve an efficient vertical Schottky junction between Ag nanoparticles and the TiO2 substrate that is demonstrated to be of crucial importance in the water-splitting process.
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