BiVO<sub>4</sub>-Based Systems Magnetron Sputtered with Silver Nanoparticles for the Artificial Photosynthesis Reaction
The incorporation of Ag nanoparticles onto BiVO<sub>4</sub> (a known H<sub>2</sub>O oxidising photocatalyst) through magnetron sputtering to form a composite was studied. ICP-OES results showed that the loading of Ag on BiVO<sub>4</sub> was below 1% in all cases....
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Sustainable Chemistry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4079/6/1/4 |
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| Summary: | The incorporation of Ag nanoparticles onto BiVO<sub>4</sub> (a known H<sub>2</sub>O oxidising photocatalyst) through magnetron sputtering to form a composite was studied. ICP-OES results showed that the loading of Ag on BiVO<sub>4</sub> was below 1% in all cases. UV-Vis DRS and CO<sub>2</sub>-TPD analyses demonstrated that upon incorporation of Ag onto BiVO<sub>4</sub>, an increase in the extent of visible light absorption and CO<sub>2</sub> adsorption was seen. TEM imaging showed the presence of Ag particles on the surface of larger BiVO<sub>4</sub> particles, while XRD analysis provided evidence for some doping of Ag into BiVO<sub>4</sub> lattices. The effect of the composite formation on the activity of the materials in the artificial photosynthesis reaction was significant. BiVO<sub>4</sub> alone produces negligible amounts of gaseous products. However, the Ag-sputtered composites produce both CO and CH<sub>4</sub>, with a higher loading of Ag leading to higher levels of product formation. This reactivity is ascribed to the generation of a heterojunction in the composite material. It is suggested that the generation of holes in BiVO<sub>4</sub> following photon absorption is used to provide protons (from H<sub>2</sub>O oxidation), and the decay of an SPR response on the Ag NPs provides hot electrons, which together with the protons reduce CO<sub>2</sub> to produce CH<sub>4</sub>, CO, and adsorbed hydrocarbonaceous species. |
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| ISSN: | 2673-4079 |