Application of Plasmonic Metal Nanoparticles in TiO2-SiO2 Composite as an Efficient Solar-Activated Photocatalyst: A Review Paper
Collin G. Joseph, Yun Hin Taufiq‐Yap, Baba Musta, Mohd Sani Sarjadi, L. Elilarasi
Abstract
Over the last decade, interest in the utilization of solar energy for photocatalysis treatment processes has taken centre-stage. Researchers had focused on doping TiO 2 with SiO 2 to obtain an efficient degradation rate of various types of target pollutants both under UV and visible-light irradiation. In order to further improve this degradation effect, some researchers resorted to incorporate plasmonic metal nanoparticles such as silver and gold into the combined TiO 2 -SiO 2 to fully optimize the TiO 2 -SiO 2 ’s potential in the visible-light region. This article focuses on the challenges in utilizing TiO 2 in the visible-light region, the contribution of SiO 2 in enhancing photocatalytic activities of the TiO 2 -SiO 2 photocatalyst, and the ability of plasmonic metal nanoparticles (Ag and Au) to edge the TiO 2 -SiO 2 photocatalyst toward an efficient solar photocatalyst.