title: Synthesis of Strong Light Scattering Absorber of TiO₂-CMK-3/Ag for Photocatalytic Water Splitting under Visible Light Irradiation.
abstract: The enhanced water splitting photocurrent has been observed through plasmonic mesoporous composite electrode TiO2-CMK-3/Ag under visible light irradiation. Strong light absorption achieved from the integrations of ordered mesoporous carbon (CMK-3) and silver plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) layer in the TiO2, which significantly increased the effective optical depth of TiO2-CMK-3/Ag photoelectrode. The carbon-based CMK-3 also increased the surface wetting behavior and conductivity of the photoelectrodes, which resulted in a higher ion exchange rate and faster electron transport. The synthesis of high crystalline TiO2-CMK-3/Ag composite photocatalyst was verified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Pronounced enhancement of light absorption of TiO2-CMK-3/Ag photoelectrode was confirmed by UV/vis spectrophotometers. Two orders of magnitude of the enhanced water splitting photocurrent were obtained in the TiO2-CMK-3/Ag composite photoelectrode with respect to TiO2 only. Finally, spatially resolved mapping photocurrents were also demonstrated in this study.
authors.affiliation: †Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Feng-Chia University, Taichung 407, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wei Hsuan
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.affiliation: †Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Feng-Chia University, Taichung 407, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Sz Nian
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: ‡Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, Taiping 411, Taiwan.
authors.forename: An Ya
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Lo
keywords: mesoporous carbon; photocatalytic water splitting; plasmonic; titanium dioxide