Fast in-situ photodeposition of Ag and Cu nanoparticles onto AgTaO3 perovskite for an enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen generation

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 45; no. 16; pp. 9744 - 9757
• Main Authors: Carrasco-Jaim, Omar A., Huerta-Flores, Ali M., Torres-Martínez, Leticia M., Moctezuma, Edgar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 20-03-2020
• Subjects: AgTaO3 perovskite; In-situ photoreduction; Noble metal nanoparticles; Photocatalytic hydrogen production; Noble metal nanoparticles; In-situ photoreduction; Photocatalytic hydrogen production; AgTaO3 perovskite
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.01.242

The M (M = Ag, Cu) nanoparticles were deposited by a fast in-situ photoreduction method onto the AgTaO3 photocatalyst surface using 1, 2, and 5 wt % ratios, in order to investigate their photocatalytic properties for hydrogen production. The obtained results indicated a nanoparticles growth <20 nm in diameter during 10 min of photoreduction process for both nanoparticles. The M (M = Ag, Cu) NPs/AgTaO3 exhibited superior photocatalytic activity than bare AgTaO3, with an efficiency increment of around 11 and 30 times at 2 wt % ratio of Ag and Cu nanoparticles, respectively. The excellent photocatalytic activity could be related to the surface plasmon resonance effect of nanoparticles, preventing the electron-hole recombination. Additionally, the optical and photoelectrochemical characterization revealed the presence and the effect of oxidized species of the nanoparticles, with a direct impact on the transport of photogenerated charge carriers for the improvement of the photocatalytic activity.
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•A fast in-situ photodeposition of Ag and Cu nanoparticles onto AgTaO3 was performed.•The nanoparticles at 2 wt% proportion showed the highest photocatalytic activity.•The Cu nanoparticles exhibited 2.5 times superior activity than Ag nanoparticles.•The oxidizing species of nanoparticles influence the charge transport mechanism.