Metal nanoparticles (MNPs) decorated heterogeneous photocatalysts are known to be effective in the degradation of various organic pollutants. The photocatalytic performance of such MNPs-photocatalyst structures remarkably depends on size, morphology and surface coverage of MNPs decorating the photocatalyst. Recently, we proposed an effective way of preparing highly active Au nanoclusters (NCs) decorated TiO₂ thin film by a novel photo-deposition method. By altering the solvent type and as well as the illumination time we achieved well-controlled surface coverage of TiO₂ by Au NCs, which directly influences the photocatalytic performance.

Fig 1. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image of sputter-deposited TiO₂ thin film (after the heat treatment).

The photocatalytic deposition method is not limited to only Au and it allows loading of TiO₂ with various types of other metallic ions such as silver (Ag) or Platinum (Pt). Recently, we have prepared Ag/TiO₂ photocatalytic hybrid structures (TiO₂ thin film decorated with Ag nanoparticles (NPs)) by photocatalytic deposition of Ag⁺ ions (under low-intensity UV irradiation) and studied corresponding structural and photocatalytic properties

Fig 2. Schematic representation of (a) the photocatalytic deposition of Ag NPs under low-intensity UV irradiation and (b) the charge separation and transfer mechanism at UV irradiated Ag/TiO₂ thin film.

Decorating TiO₂ thin film with Ag NPs significantly enhance the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ thin film due to electron trapping Ag NPs suppressed the recombination of electron-hole pairs.

Fig 3. Front Cover Illustration for “Ag Nanoparticles Decorated TiO₂ Thin Films with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity”.

Decorating TiO₂ thin film with Ag NPs significantly enhance the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ thin film due to electron trapping Ag NPs suppressed the recombination of electron-hole pairs.

Fig 4. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of (a) distributed Al NPs and (b) octahedral and truncated triangular bipyramidal Al NPs. (c) High resolution-TEM image of an octahedral Al NP (arrows indicate the oxide shell). (d) Front Cover Illustration for “Role of UV Plasmonics in the Photocatalytic Performance of TiO₂ Decorated with Aluminum Nanoparticles”.

Selected publications

S. Veziroglu, A.-L. Obermann, M. Ullrich, M. Hussain, M. Kamp, L. Kienle, T. Leißner, H.-G. Rubahn, O. Polonskyi, T. Strunskus, J. Fiutowski, M. Es-Souni, J. Adam, F. Faupel, O.C. Aktas, Photodeposition of Au Nanoclusters for Enhanced Photocatalytic Dye Degradation over TiO₂Thin Film, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces. 12 (2020) 14983–14992

S. Veziroglu, M.Z. Ghori, A.L. Obermann, K. Röder, O. Polonskyi, T. Strunskus, F. Faupel, O.C. Aktas, Ag Nanoparticles Decorated TiO₂ Thin Films with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity, Phys. Status Solidi Appl. Mater. Sci. 216 (2019) 1–6

S. Veziroglu, M.Z. Ghori, M. Kamp, L. Kienle, H.G. Rubahn, T. Strunskus, J. Fiutowski, J. Adam, F. Faupel, O.C. Aktas, Photocatalytic Growth of Hierarchical Au Needle Clusters on Highly Active TiO₂ Thin Film, Adv. Mater. Interfaces. 5 (2018) 1800465

S. Veziroglu, M. Ullrich, M. Hussain, J. Drewes, J. Shondo, T. Strunskus, J. Adam, F. Faupel, O.C. Aktas, Plasmonic and non-plasmonic contributions on photocatalytic activity of Au-TiO₂ thin film under mixed UV–visible light, Surf. Coatings Technol. 389 (2020) 125613

M.Z. Ghori, S. Veziroglu, A. Hinz, B.B. Shurtleff, O. Polonskyi, T. Strunskus, J. Adam, F. Faupel, O.C. Aktas, Role of UV Plasmonics in the Photocatalytic Performance of TiO₂ Decorated with Aluminum Nanoparticles, ACS Appl. Nano Mater. 1 (2018) 3760–3764.