Plasmon Resonance Effect Research Articles

Thermoelectric Nanoheterojunction-Mediated Multiple Energy Conversion for Enhanced Cancer Therapy.

Electron-hole recombination and exogenous local hypoxia both impede the effectiveness of thermoelectric tumor catalytic therapy. Here, a thermoelectric heterojunction (Pt-TiO2-x/Ti3C2Tx-PEG) was developed to enhance charge carrier separation and alleviate tumor hypoxia. By incorporating titanium oxide with oxygen vacancies and platinum single atoms onto Ti3C2Tx MXene, we not only improve the charge separation efficiency but also prevent the recombination of positive and negative charges generated by the thermoelectric effect, leading to an increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, the Pt SAs exhibited excellent catalase-mimicking (CAT-mimicking) activity, catalyzing hydrogen peroxide to generate oxygen and alleviating the hypoxic tumor microenvironment. Titanium oxide with oxygen vacancies also serves as a sonosensitizer for sonodynamic therapy (SDT), enhancing ROS generation in collaboration with thermoelectric catalytic therapy. Moreover, the photothermal conversion efficiency of Pt-TiO2-x/Ti3C2Tx-PEG is augmented by Pt SAs with a surface plasmon resonance effect, further boosting CAT-mimicking activity and thermoelectric catalytic therapy efficacy. This tumor-specific thermoelectric heterojunction integrates thermoelectric therapy, SDT, and photothermal therapy, demonstrating excellent tumor suppression efficacy both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, this study offers highly valuable and promising insights into utilizing photothermoelectric/ultrasound-mediated methods for cancer treatment.

Removal of tetracycline using an ultrastable Pt-decorated-BNCB photocatalyst under efficient solar-driven conditions

The pursuit of optimizing the photocatalytic performance of the novel perovskite-like Bi4NbO8X materials remains a vibrant area of research. In this paper, we report the successful synthesis of the Bi4Nb4O8Cl0.935Br0.065 (BNCB) composite photocatalyst, loaded with Pt nanoparticles, utilizing a combination of solid-state reaction and sodium borohydride reduction methods. Notably, the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect exhibited by Pt broadened the spectral response range, while the Schottky junction formed at the Pt/BNCB interface significantly accelerated the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and facilitated the swift migration of photogenerated electrons towards Pt. Experimental outcomes underscore the superior photocatalytic degradation efficacy of the Pt/BNCB composite towards tetracycline (TC), achieving a degradation rate of up to 67%, significantly outperforming pure BNCB. Pt/BNCB exhibits excellent photocatalytic degradation and excellent stability in various pH and ionic environments. Collectively, this work presents a novel approach for designing highly efficient and stable perovskite-type photocatalytic materials, holding immense potential for applications in environmental remediation.

Plasmon and N-vacancy synergistically enhanced tubular carbon nitride-based S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst with one stone five birds function: Pathways, DFT calculation and mechanism insight

From the perspectives of innovation and broad-spectrum, tubular carbon nitride-based photocatalyst, viz., Ag/AgI/g-C3N4 S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst, with enhancement of nitrogen vacancy and localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect is reasonably devised and manufactured via combining hydrothermal, calcination and photo-reduction techniques. The optimal specimen displays high photocatalytic activity in removal of dyes (such as crystalline violet, 100.00 %/60 min), antibiotics (such as levofloxacin, 88.72 %/50 min) and Cr6+ (100.00 %, 30 min), photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (1023.3 μmol h−1 g−1) and H2O2 generation (866.2 μmol h−1 g−1), achieving broad-spectrum natures, viz., realizing the function of “one stone five birds”. The broad-spectrum natures are attributed to the synergisms of nitrogen vacancy, LSPR effect of Ag, hollow tube structure and S-scheme heterojunction, which facilitate the separation and migration of photo-generated carriers and inject “hot electrons” generated by Ag into the conduction band of Ag/AgI/g-C3N4, increase the specific surface area and broaden the spectral response range. Further, the degraded intermediates of crystalline violet and levofloxacin and possible degradation pathways are rationally advanced by the aid of LCMS spectra, and synergistically enhanced photocatalytic mechanism of Ag/AgI/g-C3N4 hollow tube S-scheme heterojunction is confirmed based upon a series of sound experiments, fs-TA spectra, in-situ XPS and DFT calculation, etc.

Zr-MOF/MXene composite for enhanced photothermal catalytic CO2 reduction in atmospheric and industrial flue gas streams

In this study, a novel composite was engineered by integrating Zr-MOF (NH2-UIO-66) with MXene layers through electrostatic self-assembly. Under simulated sunlight and at 80 °C, this composite material achieved nearly complete conversion of low-concentration atmospheric CO2 to CO and CH4 without additional sacrificial agents or alkaline absorption liquids, marking one of the few reports demonstrating near-complete reduction of low-concentration CO2 directly from the air. For high-concentration CO2 in industrial flue gas, the composite utilized residual heat at 80 °C without additional energy input, exhibiting excellent CO2 reduction efficiency with CO and CH4 production rates of 127 μmol·g-1·h-1 and 330 μmol·g-1·h-1, respectively, resulting in a total production rate 4.76 times higher than that in the air. Compared to most reports on thermocatalytic CO2 reduction (>300 °C), this material shows significant advantages below 100 °C. The performance improvement is attributed to the introduction of Zr-MOF, which provides additional active sites and reduces activation energy. Additionally, the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect of MXene facilitates the migration of thermal charge carriers to Zr4+ sites within the MOF. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations validate these findings. Overall, Zr-MOF/MXene composite holds potential for reducing CO2 in air and industrial settings, advancing energy conversion and environmental management.

Research on thermal resistance Performance: Broadband solar absorber based on laminated circular ring − disk microstructure

This paper presents a laminated circular-ring-disk (CRDS) solar microstructure absorber constructed based on heat-resistant metals. This absorber achieves an ultra-broadband absorption with a bandwidth of 2171.68 nm in the near-ultraviolet to mid-infrared band, and has three absorption peaks with absorption rates exceeding 96 %, with peak wavelengths of 342.09 nm, 1215.40 nm, and 2032.86 nm respectively. With the finite-difference time-domain method (FDTD), we detected that the average absorption efficiency of this absorber under Atmospheric mass of 1.5(AM 1.5) conditions is as high as 96.05 %, and the average energy loss is only 3.95 %. Meanwhile, the research results of the electric field distribution of the CRDS microstructure show that CRDS effectively promotes the surface plasmon resonance effect between the laminated metal materials. Combined with the research on the top micro-absorption structure materials, we finally determined the structural parameters of the CRDS structure absorber and selected heat-resistant metals nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), and titanium (Ti). On this basis,we focused on the thermal radiation performance of the absorber and found that it has good adaptability to high-temperature environments. Finally, by comparing the Transverse Electric Wave(TE) and Transverse Magnetic Wave(TM) polarization conditions with the sweep parameter diagrams of 0°-60°, we found that the absorber has excellent angle insensitivity. In view of the above discussions, the CRDS microstructure absorber has good thermal stability, angle insensitivity, and can achieve ultra-broadband perfect absorption from the near-ultraviolet to the mid-infrared band, and has broad application prospects.

LSPR-assisted W18O49/ZnO S-scheme heterojunction for efficient photocatalytic CO2N-formylation of aniline

Designing highly efficient photocatalyst for the valorization of CO2 is an ideal strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and utilize solar energy. In this study, a S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst is fabricated by solvothermal impregnation of ZnO on W18O49 for photocatalytic CO2N-formylation of aniline. The localized surface plasmon resonance effect of W18O49 improves the absorption capacity for long-wave light significantly, and the hot electrons generated in W18O49 with a high energy can migrate to the conduction band of ZnO and thus enhance the photocatalytic reduction ability. Meanwhile, the S-scheme heterojunction facilitates the separation of photoinduced charge carriers and preserves the redox ability of W18O49/ZnO composite photocatalyst. The conversion of aniline reaches 99.1% after 5 h reaction under visible light irradiation at room temperature with an N-formylaniline selectivity of 100%. A possible photocatalytic reaction mechanism is proposed. This study paves a promising way for the design of highly efficient photocatalyst and the sustainable utilization of CO2.

Avi-tag mediated Phage@gold nanoprobe illuminates bacteria

The phage demonstrates specific recognition towards its host bacteria, while the gold nanoparticle (GNP) exhibits a strong surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect and emits visible fluorescence with dark-field microscope (DFM). Therefore, phage modified with multiple GNPs (phage@GNPs) targeting bacteria enables the visualization of targets under DFM. However, a universal strategy for constructing a stable phage nanoprobe suitable for clinical detection remains a challenge. Herein, we developed a GNP-functionalized phage (phage@GNPs) by displaying an AVI-tag at the N-terminal region of the major capsid protein in S55 (a Salmonella phage). The S55 displaying AVI-tag exhibits equivalent infectivity towards various serotypes of Salmonella as the native S55 and can be further biotinylated through a reaction between lysine residues on the AVI-tag and COOH groups on D-biotin mediated. Consequently, biotinylated S55 was mixed with streptavidin functionalized GNPs to generate the S55@GNPs due to the strong interaction between biotin and streptavidin. Analysis results showed that the obtained S55@GNPs maintained native affinity to host bacteria and better monodispersity and stability than the other four modification and assembly methods for constructing phage@GNPs. Furthermore, the results of simulated and clinical Salmonella samples demonstrated that AVI-tag mediated S55@GNPs probes possess a qPCR-like sensitivity with a detection limit of 1 CFU/μL. Notably, the remarkable AVI-tag mediated phage@GNPs DFM strategy covers an extensive detection range spanning from 1 to 50,000 CFU/μL. Additionally, we employed the AVI-tag mediated assemble of phage@GNPs for phages of Vibrio and Klebsiella. The results showed similar data as S55 for illuminating host cells, suggesting that AVI-tag mediated phage@GNPs assembly is a universal strategy applicable to phage of any other bacteria for illuminating their respective host bacterial under DFM.

Al@Al2O3 core-shell plasmonic design for the dilemma between high responsivity and low dark current of MoS2 photodetector

The localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect induced by metal nanoparticles (NPs) can solve the problem of low light absorption in two-dimensional (2D) materials limited by atomic scale. However, the accompanying problem is the rise in dark current due to plenty of electrons from metal NPs injecting into the 2D materials, which decreases the performance of plasmonic photodetectors. Here, we designed the structure of Al NPs coated with Al2O3 by low temperature oxidation treatment method to balance the dilemma between high photoresponse and low dark current. Raman spectrum and finite-difference time-domain simulations were used to verify that Al2O3 does not affect the LSPR effect of Al NPs. Compared to that of the pristine MoS2/Al photodetector, the MoS2/Al@Al2O3 plasmonic photodetector achieved a fourfold decrease in dark current, threefold increase in detectivity, and 1.5-fold increase in responsivity. As a result, the optimized plasmonic device achieves a high responsivity of ∼1719 A/W, an excellent detectivity of ∼6.0 × 1011 Jones, and an ultra-fast response speed of ∼15 ns. Our work reveals that constructing metal NPs covered by ultra-thin oxide layer is a feasible strategy for plasmonic photodetectors to decrease dark current and achieve high performance index.

Enhanced anti-bacterial properties and thermal regulation via photothermal conversion with localized surface plasmon resonance effect in cotton fabrics

Enhanced anti-bacterial properties and thermal regulation are realized in cotton fabrics cross-linked with hybrid poly(di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate-co-oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol methacrylate) nanogels containing gold nanoparticles (Au NPs), denoted as hybrid P(MA-co-MA300-co-EGMA)/Au nanogels. Pure P(MA-co-MA300-co-EGMA) nanogels are synthesized by emulsion polymerization as carriers and then embedded with Au NPs via in-situ reduction. By applying 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid as a cross-linker and changing the amount of hybrid P(MA-co-MA300-co-EGMA)/Au nanogels in solution, the weight gain ratios of hybrid nanogels on cotton fabrics are set as 10 % (CHN-10) and 20 % (CHN-20). Due to the densely packed structure of the hybrid nanogels on the surface, the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect of the Au NPs improves the photothermal conversion capability and converts the absorbed light energy into thermal energy. Simply illuminating with visible light, the surface temperature of CHN-20 pronouncedly increases from 20.4 to 43.0 °C in 50 s. The increased local temperature induces the denaturation of protein and the death of bacteria on the surface. Thus, an illumination with visible light for 2 h results in an anti-bacterial rate for S. aureus of 100 % for CHN-20. Additionally, it presents an excellent thermal regulation capability via photothermal conversion and can be used for continuously maintaining human body temperature in cold areas. Because no additional chemical agents and external power source are required for the anti-bacterial properties and thermal regulation, the obtained cotton fabrics cross-linked with hybrid P(MA-co-MA300-co-EGMA)/Au nanogels are eco-friendly and suitable for smart textiles in daily wear.

Nickel-Induced Dual Carbon Networks Encapsulating Phase Change Materials for Photothermal Conversion and Storage.

Bifunctional phase change materials (PCMs) with efficient energy storage and photothermal conversion capabilities have tremendous potential to be applied in advanced thermal management. However, classical organic PCMs with high latent heat are challenged by poor light harvesting, low thermal conductivity, and leakage risks. Here, we design a unique dual-carbon network with Ni nanoparticles (NPs), confined carbon nanotubes (CNTs) shuttling in carbon honeycombs (CH), namely, CH@Ni-CNTs, to encapsulate paraffin wax (PW) that can facilitate the light capture and photothermal conversion dynamics. Benefiting from the physical adsorption of the hierarchical porous structure, the obtained PW/CH@Ni-CNTs composite PCMs show a high phase change enthalpy of 131.0 J g-1 and long-lasting thermal stability of up to 300 heating-cooling cycles. Moreover, an outstanding photothermal energy conversion efficiency of 96.9% is achieved due to the synergistic effect of the dual carbon network and confined Ni NPs. The CNTs shuttled CH network affords multiple reflection chambers and a thermal conductive pathway, while the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effects of Ni NPs concentrate the incident light energy to generate and accelerate the transport of active "hot electron", thus collectively contributing to the excellent photothermal properties of the composite PCMs. This study presents a bifunctional Ni-induced dual-carbon network system for the controllable preparation of composite PCMs, and it sheds light on the photothermal conversion mechanisms.

Enhanced persulfate-assisted photocatalytic degradation of phenol by Ag/ZnFe2O4 composite

Effective and reasonable degradation of phenolic wastewater has important practical significance in reducing environmental pollution and ensuring water resource security. Ag/ZnFe2O4 (Ag/ZFO) photocatalysts were synthesized using the one-step solvothermal method and characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, FT-IR, XPS, UV–vis DRS, and so on. Their photocatalytic performance for phenol degradation under visible light, assisted by persulfate (PS), was studied. The incorporation of Ag nanoparticles into ZFO significantly enhanced phenol degradation efficiency, especially 10 %Ag/ZFO showing the most remarkable improvement with 94.3 % phenol degradation in 60 min, —48.7 % higher than pure ZnFe2O4. The influence of various variables, including PS dosage, initial phenol concentration, solution pH, and common inorganic anions in water, on phenol degradation were examined systematically. The superior persulfate-assisted photocatalytic performance of 10 %Ag/ZFO, assisted by PS for phenol degradation, is primarily due to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect of Ag nanoparticles, enhancing light absorption and use while inhibiting the photogenerated carriers’ recombination rates. In addition, Ag nanoparticles and the Fe3+/Fe2+ recycling redox process activate PS to produce more free radicals, thus improving the performance of the Vis-10 %Ag/ZFO-PS system for phenol degradation. The possible mechanism of the Vis-10 %Ag/ZFO-PS system for phenol degradation is described based on trapping tests, EPR, and XPS results. Magnetic retrievability, good structural stability, and high activity of the synthesized Ag/ZFO photocatalyst elucidate its potential application for degradation of phenolic wastewater.

Engineering defect-rich H-W18O49 nanowire/MIL-125(Ti) nanosheet S-scheme heterostructure for remarkable CO2 photoconversion

The rational construction of heterojunctions with surface defects and localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect is a promising strategy for improving CO2 photoreduction performance. Herein, the one-dimensional/two-dimensional (1D/2D) S-scheme heterostructures integrated with non-stoichiometric 1D W18O49 nanowires (H-W18O49 NWs) and 2D ultrathin MIL-125(Ti) nanosheets (MIL-125(Ti) NSs) were constructed by self-assembly for photocatalytic CO2 reduction. In situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electron spin resonance spectra (ESR), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy characterizations confirm the construction of S-scheme heterojunction and the solid internal electric field at the heterointerface enables effective spatial charge separation while keeping a strong redox capability. The hot electrons generated from the LSPR effect of visible-near-infrared light-excited H-W18O49 NWs can be injected into MIL-125(Ti) NSs to increase the electron density and accelerate the reaction rate. Thus, the optimized H-W18O49 NW/MIL-125(Ti) NS heterostructure exhibited good performance, achieving a CO yield of 202.37 μmol g-1h−1. This study enriches the diversity and architecture of available heterostructures for photocatalytic applications.

Localized surface plasmon resonance effect–mediated in-situ photochemical–formation of H2O2 for high epoxidation performance over LaSrCoNiO6 nanoparticles

Selective aerobic epoxidation of allylic alcohols and olefins presents a promising solution to the modern chemical industry. However, the development of non-noble metal catalysts with superior catalytic performance for this reaction remains a significant challenge. This study introduces a plasmonic photothermal-catalytic system centered around nano LaSrCoNiO6 (LSCNi-N) catalyst, enabling the epoxidation of cinnamyl alcohol and styrene mediated by LSPR effect under visible light illumination (>420 nm). This catalyst exhibits superior epoxidation catalytic performance, with selectivities of up to 72.3 % in a 93.4 % conversion of cinnamyl alcohol and 91.8 % selectivity of styrene oxide at almost 100 % conversion of styrene. Mechanistic studies reveal that the high selectivity derives from the in-situ photochemical formation of H2O2 mediated by the localized surface plasmon resonance effect of LSCNi-N and hole scavenger effect of cinnamyl alcohol. These findings highlight the potential of designing plasmonic transition-metal oxidic catalysts to overcome challenges in selectively synthesizing fine chemicals through visible light catalysis.

Highly Active MXene Quantum Dots/CuSe n-p Plasmonic Heterostructures for Ultrafast Photocatalytic Removal of Cr(VI) under Full Solar Spectrum.

Identifying effective plasmonic photocatalysts exhibiting robust activities across the entire solar spectrum poses a significant challenge. CuSe, with its local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect, has garnered attention as a prospective plasmonic photocatalyst. However, severe charge recombination and insufficient light absorption limit its photocatalytic performance. To enhance the performance, constructing CuSe-based n-p plasmonic semiconductor heterostructures is a potential strategy. MXene quantum dots (MQDs), a kind of n-type plasmonic semiconductor with metallic conductivity and a high LSPR effect, are a promising candidate to couple with p-type CuSe. According to the complementary principle, we designed a 0D/2D MQDs/CuSe n-p plasmonic semiconductor, achieved by wrapping CuSe nanosheets with MQDs. This n-p plasmonic heterostructure exhibits a synergistic effect on an enhanced electronic field, facilitating charge transfer and separation, thereby enhancing charge excitation, carrier migration, and photothermal effect. Furthermore, optimizing the MQD loading content leads to an ultrafast photocatalytic reaction rate, achieving 100% Cr(VI) reduction efficiency within just 60 min with a reaction kinetics of 0.069 min-1, surpassing the performance of bare CuSe. Our work presents a promising approach for developing advanced n-p plasmonic heterostructures based on MQDs for wastewater treatment and other photocatalytic applications.

Plasmon-enhanced NIR-II photoluminescence of rare-earth oxide nanoprobes for high-sensitivity optical temperature sensing.

With ongoing advancements in photothermal therapy, achieving efficient tumor cell eradication while minimizing damage to healthy tissues necessitates a highly effective and non-invasive real-time temperature monitoring technique for human tissues. Herein, we report a near-infrared (NIR)-II optical temperature sensing nanoprobe featuring rare-earth-doped gadolinium oxide nanocrystals (RENCs) attached to the dumbbell mesoporous silica-coated gold nanorods (AuNRs). The composite nanoprobe presents an intense absorption in the NIR region, and NIR-II photoluminescence (PL) increases by 97.2 to 102-fold compared to pure RENCs upon 980 nm irradiation. The localized electric field generated through surface plasmon resonance effects of AuNRs demonstrated a dumbbell-shaped distribution that aligns with the structure of nanoprobes, maximizing the PL enhancement of RENCs. Moreover, the NIR-II emissions are changed with the rising temperature, with an exceptional relative sensitivity of 7.25% K-1 at 338 K based on PL lifetime, indicating the nanoprobe is highly potential for optical temperature sensing.

Dual-functional Cu-Fe Co-Doped TiO₂ photocatalyst for efficient hydrogen production and phenol degradation

This study presents a novel dual-functional photocatalyst, Cu-Fe co-doped TiO₂, that simultaneously addresses two critical global challenges: environmental pollution and sustainable energy production. Unlike most existing research focused on a single functionality, this study explores the synergistic effects of Cu and Fe doping on TiO₂, leading to simultaneous phenol degradation and hydrogen production under visible light irradiation. The 5Cu5Fe-TiO₂ photocatalyst, co-doped with 5 wt.% Cu and 5 wt.% Fe, exhibited outstanding performance, degrading 10 ppm of phenol within 6 h while generating 680 μmol/g of hydrogen. The catalyst showed remarkable stability over five recycling cycles without loss of efficiency. The Fe component significantly narrowed the TiO₂ bandgap, enhancing light absorption in the visible region, while the Cu component contributed to the formation of heterojunctions and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effects, promoting efficient charge separation. These combined effects create a highly effective charge transfer mechanism, making the catalyst a promising solution for both environmental remediation and renewable energy generation. This work offers a cost-effective and scalable approach to dual-functional photocatalysis, opening up new avenues for sustainable technology development.

A Facile Microwave-Promoted Formation of Highly Photoresponsive Au-Decorated TiO2 Nanorods for the Enhanced Photo-Degradation of Methylene Blue.

The integration of noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) effectively modifies the electronic properties of semiconductor photocatalysts, leading to improved charge separation and enhanced photocatalytic performance. TiO2 nanorods decorated with Au NPs were successfully synthesized using a cost-effective, rapid microwave-assisted method in H2O2 and HF media for methylene blue (MB) degradation under visible light illumination. X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N2 physisorption, and UV-vis spectroscopy were employed to characterize the structures, morphologies, compositions, and photoelectronic properties of the as-synthesized materials. The fusing of Au NPs effectively alters the electronic structure of TiO2, enhancing the charge separation efficiency and improved electrical conductivity. The HF treatment promotes the exposure of the highly reactive (001) and (101) crystalline facets. The improved photocatalytic activity of Au/TiO2, achieving 97% efficiency, is attributed to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect of the Au NPs and the presence of oxygen vacancies. The photodegradation of MB using the TiO2/Au photocatalysts follows pseudo-first-order kinetics, highlighting the enhanced catalytic efficiency of the synthesized nanostructures. The exceptional properties of the binary Au/TiO2 photocatalysts, including the SPR effect, exposed crystallographic faces, and efficient charge carrier separation through a decrease in the recombination of electrons and holes, contribute to the photocatalytic degradation of MB.

In situ formation of oxygen-deficient WO3-x nanosheets for enhanced photocatalytic activity in water splitting and plastic reforming

Photocatalytic pathways are essential for the sustainable production of chemicals and fuels, pivotal for achieving a pollution-free planet. Electron-hole recombination is a critical problem that has, so far, limited the efficiency of the photocatalytic materials. Here, oxygen-deficient WO3-x nanosheets were in situ grown in a polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) support during the thermal polycondensation of melamine. The introduction of defect in WO3-x, accompanied by spin polarization and the formed WO3-x/PCN heterostructure, greatly accelerated the charge separation and transfer. The synthesized WO3-x/PCN composite exhibited a tenfold increase in hydrogen generation activity than pure PCN under visible-light (420 ≤ λ ≤ 780 nm). The WO3-x/PCN also demonstrated consecutive 24 h and stable photocatalytic H2 production in the aqueous plastic-containing [poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and the PET bottle] solutions under visible light. The hydrogen production rates were determined to be 111.2, 50.5, and 7.8 μmol·h−1·g−1 in PVA, PET and PET bottle, respectively. In addition, the oxygen vacancies WO3 with their localized surface plasmon resonance effect, facilitated efficient utilization of NIR photon and the hydrogen evolution rate over WO3-x/PCN reached to 120 μmol h−1·g−1 under NIR light (700 ≤ λ ≤ 780 nm). This research not only advances the potential applications of WO3-x/PCN in sustainable energy production but also provides insights into environmental remediation through the conversion of plastic wastes.

Application of NiS modified WS2/TiO2 heterostructure in photocathodic protection

Stainless steel, as a popular corrosion resistant material, is still vulnerable to pitting corrosion in the marine environment. Therefore, in order to ensure the safety of stainless steel in the marine environment, it is necessary to implement corresponding protective measures. Titanium dioxide (TiO2), as an N-type semiconductor with excellent photoelectric properties, is widely used in the field of cathodic protection. However, as a photogenerated cathodic corrosion protection material, TiO2has the disadvantages of low conductivity and high carrier recombination rate. Therefore, WS2and NIS were introduced in this paper to modify it. TiO2/WS2/NiS (TWN) composites with Type-Ⅱ heterojunction structure were prepared by hydrothermal method and titration method. The results reveal TWN5 showed the best photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance, and the photocurrent density was 69% higher than that of a pure TiO2photoanode, and the photochemical and photocathodic protection performance was significantly better than that of pure TiO2. Under simulated ocean conditions, the self-corrosion potential of 304ss combined with TW5 and TWN5 photoanodes is reduced to -0.64 V and -0.7 V, respectively. The main reason is that the contact surfaces of WS2and TiO2formed a Type II heterostructure, which accelerates the separation and diffusion processes of photoinduced carriers. In addition, the plasmon resonance effect of NiS improves the ability to absorb visible light, and the metallic-like feature of NiS also promotes charge separation.

Voltage-induced rearrangement in silver nanoparticles spatial distribution produced by EAFD method and its LSPR optimization

Abstract This paper presents a voltage-induced and thermal annealing rearrangement (VITAR) method based on modified electric field assisted film dissolution method as a flexible and powerful tool for manipulating nanoparticles spatial distribution based on drift and diffusion mechanisms that occur due to external DC voltage and thermal annealing processes. Different samples with various arrangements of external DC voltage and thermal annealing processes have been produced. The extinction and attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectra, as well as atomic force microscope (AFM) images, have been employed to investigate their optical and morphological properties. Four cases with arrangements of DV-Anl, DV-Anl-DV, DV-Anl-IV, and DV-IV-Anl have been studied. The AFM images show that by applying secondary voltage (direct or inverse voltage), it is possible to drift nanoparticles and change its morphology (size and shape) as well as surface and volume distributions. As a result, by applying a secondary direct voltage (in the DV-Anl-DV case), the surface density of nanoparticles decreases due to direct drift force. It is notable that in this case, the extinction peak and ATR depth have not significantly changed. By applying a secondary inverse voltage (in the DV-Anl-IV, and DV-IV-Anl cases), an increase in the surface density of the nanoparticles has been observed. Also, the extinction peak has increased, and the ATR depth has decreased in the DV-Anl-IV case, but in the DV-IV-Anl case, due to the uniform size of surface nanoparticles, the resonance power has shown a significant increase in both extinction and ATR spectra compared to other cases. The resulting changes in extinction and ATR spectra show that by using the VITAR process, the surface structure, morphology and its optical properties can be optimized and this method provides a great opportunity to enhance Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance effects, which can be employed in nano-optical devices.