Enhanced photoelectrochemical properties of TiO2 nanorods decorated with Ag–Zn bimetallic nanoparticles

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-1-2025

Department

Physics and Astronomy

School

Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Abstract

TiO2 nanorods, a promising photocatalyst, suffer from insufficient visible light absorption and rapid charge recombination. This study addresses these limitations by decorating TiO2 nanorods with Ag–Zn bimetallic nanoparticles. Characterization techniques, including FE-SEM, AFM, XRD, EDX, and UV–vis spectroscopy, established the effective synthesis of the nanostructures and the incorporation of the bimetallic nanoparticles. The introduction of Ag–Zn nanoparticles significantly enhanced absorption of light in visible spectrum, leading to a lessened bandgap from 3.04 eV to 2.72 eV. Photoelectrochemical measurements demonstrated a substantial improvement in photocurrent density, reaching a maximum of 0.385 mA/cm2 at 1.2 V vs Ag/AgCl for Zn@TiO2, compared to 0.033 mA/cm2 for undecorated TiO2. These findings highlight how well the suggested strategy in improving the photoelectrochemical performance of TiO2 nanorods, paving the way for advanced solar energy conversion applications.

Publication Title

Journal of the Indian Chemical Society

Volume

102

Issue

6

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