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: Eva Naughton, Emerson C. Kohlrausch, Jesum Alves Fernandes, James A. Sullivan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Sustainable Chemistry
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4079/6/1/4
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author Eva Naughton
Emerson C. Kohlrausch
Jesum Alves Fernandes
James A. Sullivan
author_facet Eva Naughton
Emerson C. Kohlrausch
Jesum Alves Fernandes
James A. Sullivan
author_sort Eva Naughton
collection DOAJ
description 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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spelling doaj-art-f71e0fe95ee449ccbd31e10965ff11c52025-08-20T01:49:04ZengMDPI AGSustainable Chemistry2673-40792025-01-0161410.3390/suschem6010004BiVO<sub>4</sub>-Based Systems Magnetron Sputtered with Silver Nanoparticles for the Artificial Photosynthesis ReactionEva Naughton0Emerson C. Kohlrausch1Jesum Alves Fernandes2James A. Sullivan3School of Chemistry, University College Dublin, Belfield, D18 V1W8 Dublin, IrelandSchool of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UKSchool of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UKSchool of Chemistry, University College Dublin, Belfield, D18 V1W8 Dublin, IrelandThe 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4079/6/1/4magnetron sputteringartificial photosynthesisCO<sub>2</sub> photoreductionBiVO<sub>4</sub> photocatalysts
spellingShingle Eva Naughton
Emerson C. Kohlrausch
Jesum Alves Fernandes
James A. Sullivan
BiVO<sub>4</sub>-Based Systems Magnetron Sputtered with Silver Nanoparticles for the Artificial Photosynthesis Reaction
Sustainable Chemistry
magnetron sputtering
artificial photosynthesis
CO<sub>2</sub> photoreduction
BiVO<sub>4</sub> photocatalysts
title BiVO<sub>4</sub>-Based Systems Magnetron Sputtered with Silver Nanoparticles for the Artificial Photosynthesis Reaction
title_full BiVO<sub>4</sub>-Based Systems Magnetron Sputtered with Silver Nanoparticles for the Artificial Photosynthesis Reaction
title_fullStr BiVO<sub>4</sub>-Based Systems Magnetron Sputtered with Silver Nanoparticles for the Artificial Photosynthesis Reaction
title_full_unstemmed BiVO<sub>4</sub>-Based Systems Magnetron Sputtered with Silver Nanoparticles for the Artificial Photosynthesis Reaction
title_short BiVO<sub>4</sub>-Based Systems Magnetron Sputtered with Silver Nanoparticles for the Artificial Photosynthesis Reaction
title_sort bivo sub 4 sub based systems magnetron sputtered with silver nanoparticles for the artificial photosynthesis reaction
topic magnetron sputtering
artificial photosynthesis
CO<sub>2</sub> photoreduction
BiVO<sub>4</sub> photocatalysts
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4079/6/1/4
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AT jesumalvesfernandes bivosub4subbasedsystemsmagnetronsputteredwithsilvernanoparticlesfortheartificialphotosynthesisreaction
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