Title

Visible-Light-Active Plasmonic Ag-SrTiO₃Nanocomposites for the Degradation of NO in Air with High Selectivity

Authors

Zhang, Q; Huang, Y; Xu, LF; Cao, JJ; Ho, WK; Lee, SC

Abstract

Harnessing inexhaustible solar energy for photocatalytic disposal of nitrogen oxides is of great significance nowadays. In this study, Ag-SrTiO₃nanocomposites (Ag-STO) were synthesized via one-pot solvothermal method for the first time. The deposition of Ag nanoparticles incurs a broad plasmonic resonance absorption in the visible light range, resulting in enhanced visible light driven activity on NO removal in comparison with pristine SrTiO₃. The Ag loading amount has a significant influence on light absorption properties of Ag-STO, which further affects the photocatalytic efficiency. It was shown that 0.5% Ag loading onto SrTiO₃(in mass ratio) could remove 30% of NO in a single reaction path under visible light irradiation, which is twice higher than that achieved on pristine SrTiO₃. Most importantly, the generation of harmful intermediate (NO₂) is largely inhibited over SrTiO₃and Ag-STO nanocomposites, which can be ascribed to the basic surface property of strontium sites. As identified by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra, center dot O₂^-and center dot OH radicals are the major reactive species for NO oxidation. Essentially speaking, the abundance of reactive oxygen radicals produced over Ag-STO nanocomposites are responsible for the improved photocatalytic activity. This work provides a facile and controllable route to fabricate plasmonic Ag-SrTiO₃nanocomposite photocatalyst featuring high visible light activity and selectivity for NO abatement.

Corresponding author

Huang Yu, Cao Junji

Volume

8

Issue

6

Page

4165-4172

Pub year

February, 2016

Publication name

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

Details

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsami.5b11887