Synthesis and Study of Plasmon-Induced Carrier Behavior at Ag/TiO2 Nanowires

Nanocomposites of Ag/TiO2 nanowires with enhanced photoelectrochemical performance have been prepared by a facile solvothermal synthesis of TiO2 nanowires and subsequent photoreduction of Ag+ ions to Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the TiO2 nanowires. The as-prepared nanocomposites exhibited significantly improved cathodic photocurrent responses under visible-light illumination, which is attributed to the local electric field enhancement of plasmon resonance effect near the TiO2 surface rather than by the direct transfer of charge between the two materials. The visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance of these nanocomposites in the degradation of methylene blue dye was also studied, and the observed improvement in photocatalytic activity is associated with the extended light absorption range and efficient charge separation due to surface plasmon resonance effect of AgNPs.