Harvesting Lost Photons: Plasmon and Upconversion Enhanced Broadband Photocatalytic Activity in Core@Shell Microspheres Based on Lanthanide-Doped NaYF4, TiO2, and Au

Efficiently harvesting solar energy for photocatalysis remains very challenging. Rational design of architectures by combining nanocomponents of radically different properties, for example, plasmonic, upconversion, and photocatalytic properties, offers a promising route to improve solar energy utilization. Herein, the synthesis of novel, plasmonic Au nanoparticle decorated NaYF4:Yb3+, Er3+, Tm3+-core@porous-TiO2-shell microspheres is reported. They exhibit high surface area, good stability, broadband absorption from ultraviolet to near infrared, and excellent photocatalytic activity, significantly better than the benchmark P25 TiO2. The enhanced activity is attributed to synergistic effects from nanocomponents arranged into the nanostructured architecture in such a way that favors the efficient charge/energy transfer among nanocomponents and largely reduced charge recombination. Optical and energy-transfer properties are modeled theoretically to support our interpretations of catalytic mechanisms. In addition to yielding novel materials and interesting properties, the current work provides physical insights that can contribute to the future development of plasmon-enhanced broadband catalysts.