Template Based Synthesis of Plasmonic Ag‐modified TiO <sub>2</sub> /SnO <sub>2</sub> Nanotubes with Enhanced Photostability for Efficient Visible‐Light Photocatalytic H <sub>2</sub> Evolution and RhB Degradation
Mohammad Javad Fakharian‐Qomi, Abbas Sadeghzadeh‐Attar
Abstract
Abstract In the present study, ternary photocatalysts of Ag‐modified hybrid TiO 2 /SnO 2 nanotube with varied Ag contents were synthesized by the liquid‐phase deposition method. The morphology, crystal structure and optical properties of ternary photocatalysts have been investigated in detail and compared with those of SnO 2 , TiO 2 , and TiO 2 /SnO 2 nanotubes. The photocatalytic activity of the products has also been evaluated based on the degradation of Rhodamine B and H 2 production under visible‐light irradiation. It was found that photostable 0.4 Ag‐TiO 2 /SnO 2 nanotubes exhibit the highest photocatalytic H 2 production rate of 1304.8 μmol.h −1 .g −1 with the maximum apparent quantum yield (AQY) of 6.3%. The improvement in H 2 evolution rate and photodegradation efficiency can be attributed to the synergetic effect of SnO 2 coupling with TiO 2 nanotubes and Ag modification, mainly owning to enlarged light absorption region, efficient separation of charge carriers in hybrid nanotubes, and localization of surface plasmon resonance of Ag nanoparticles.