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Preparation of Silver-Palladium Alloyed Nanoparticles for Plasmonic Catalysis under Visible-Light Illumination
Published on: August 18, 2020
Plasmon-Enhanced S-Scheme Ag/ZnAl-MMO Heterojunction for Photothermal Catalytic Conversion of Polylactic Acid Plastic
Yang Wan1, Yuhe Lei1, Huijie Wang2
1Institute of Green Chemistry and Chemical Technology, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang212013, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Photocatalytic conversion of waste polylactic acid (PLA) plastic is often limited by poor charge separation and sluggish surface kinetics. To overcome this, we developed Ag-loaded ZnAl mixed metal oxides (MMO) with an S-scheme heterojunction. The optimal material achieves near-complete PLA degradation within 4.5 h, showing about twice the activity of pristine ZnAl-MMO. This enhancement arises from the synergy between the S-scheme charge transfer and the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of Ag nanoparticles. As verified by theoretical calculations and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), the S-scheme facilitates spatial charge separation, while Ag LSPR broadens visible-light absorption and induces local heating to accelerate surface reactions. This work offers a simple strategy to convert PLA waste into valuable products, promoting sustainable recycling.
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