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Paper   IPM / P / 13142
School of Physics
  Title:   Noble Metal Alloy Nanoparticle Embedded in TiO2 Matrix for Water Splitting Reactions
  Author(s): 
1.  N. Naseri
2.  P. Sangpour
  Status:   In Proceedings
  Proceeding: Proceedings of the 5thInternational Conference on Nanostructures (ICNS5)
  Year:  2014
  Supported by:  IPM
  Abstract:
Au-Ag alloy nanoparticles have been grown in TiO2 matrix and the system was applied as photoanode material for photoelectrochemical water splitting reactions. Single optical absorption peak about 530 nm revealed formation of bimetallic Au-Ag nanoparticles in the alloy state instead of physical mixture. This has been also confirmed by observed binding energies for Au(4f) and Ag(3d) peaks in XPS analysis. The catalytic effect of nanoparticles in the TiO2 photoactive matrix enhanced photoresponse of the film two times. Moreover, by annealing the samples in reducing ambient and hence, creating oxygen vacancies in them, the measured photocurrent was improved to 6 mA/cm2 under xenon lamp irradiation. Increasing visible absorption of the Ar+H2 heat treated films,facilitating charge transport process in electro/electrolyte interface and higher surface area of the photoanodes are mainly responsible for the observed enhancement in water splitting reaction.

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