Importance of Plasmonic Heating on Visible Light Driven Photocatalysis of Gold Nanoparticle Decorated Zinc Oxide Nanorods

• DOI: 10.1038/srep26913
• Publication Date: 2016-05-31T09:44:11Z
• Authors: Tanujjal Bora; David Zoepfl; Joydeep Dutta
• Keywords: Nanorod; Visible spectrum

Abstract Herein we explore the role of localized plasmonic heat generated by resonantly excited gold (Au) NPs on visible light driven photocatalysis process. Au are deposited surface vertically aligned zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO NRs). The under 532 nm continuous laser excitation (SPR excitation) was experimentally probed using Raman spectroscopy following phonon modes ZnO. Under resonant temperature at Au-ZnO NRs reaches up to about 300 °C, resulting in almost 6 times higher apparent quantum yield (AQY) for photocatalytic degradation methylene blue (MB) compared bare ZnO NRs. solar irradiation demonstrated activity twice that what achieved with NRs, while significantly reduced activation energy required reactions allowing occur a faster rate.