Synthesis of bone-shaped Au–Ag2S metal-semiconductor nanorods and their photocatalytic application

Abstract

In this work, we describe an aqueous synthetic strategy for producing bone-shaped Au − Ag2S metal-semiconductor hybrid nanorods. Specifically, Au nanorods were first synthesized and used as seeds to synthesize bone-shaped Au − Ag nanorods by selectively overgrowing Ag shells at both ends of Au nanorods. Through the site-selective sulfidation strategy using Na2S aqueous solution, the Au − Ag bimetallic nanorods were transformed into Au–Ag2S metal–semiconductor hybrid nanorods. When used as photocatalysts for the photooxidative degradation of methylene blue (MB) under sunlight irradiation, the Au–Ag2S hybrid nanorods showed excellent photocatalytic performance due to the synergistic action of metal and semiconductor components.