Developing a Hybrid Photocatalyst by Laser Embedding in Liquid: Case Study on Ag-Doped TiO₂ Nanocrystal

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Photocatalysis

Background:

• Optimizing semiconductor photocatalysts is crucial for advanced oxidation processes (AOPs).
• Hybrid nanospheres offer synergistic effects, enhancing visible-light harvesting via localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR).
• Efficiently embedding noble metals into semiconductors remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a facile and efficient method for embedding noble metal spheres into semiconductor photocatalysts.
• To create spherical Ag/TiO2 nanocomposites (NCs) with enhanced photocatalytic activity.
• To understand the mechanism behind the enhanced performance.

Main Methods:

• A novel laser embedding in liquid (LEL) approach was employed.
• Ag and TiO2 spherical nanocrystals were combined using laser heating and colloidal particle quenching.
• Spherical Ag/TiO2 nanocomposites were synthesized.

Main Results:

• The LEL method successfully embedded Ag into the TiO2 surface, forming spherical Ag/TiO2 NCs.
• Photocatalytic performance was significantly enhanced compared to raw TiO2.
• A 2.73- and 2.93-fold increase in performance was observed at specific Ag:TiO2 ratios.

Conclusions:

• The LEL method provides an effective route for fabricating high-performance metal-based photocatalysts.
• The study offers insights into the structural mechanism of laser-induced nanocomposite design.
• This work serves as a reference for optimizing AOP photocatalysts.