Ag/graphene/TiO_2 Composite Nanorods for Plasmonic Photocatalytic Reaction

摘要

Hot electrons is generated in nanorods of layered Ag/graphene/TiO_2 structure with high efficiency and presented to enhance plasmonic photocatalytic water treatment. The high-energy hot electrons generate under external light-illumination on titanium dioxide (TiO_2) nanoparticles lead to the conversion of oxygen molecule (O_2) to the highly-active superoxide radical (*O_2~-) that leads to the degradation of organics in water. However, the generated hot electrons tend to recombine with the simultaneously generated hot holes and convert to wasted energy. Graphene has lower energy level than Ag and TiO_2, and can keep the generated hot electrons from recombination with the generated hot holes. The experimental results of photocatalytic degradation of methyl blue presented the enhanced processing efficiency with the introduction of graphene layer.