The nano-interface formed by bimetallic Cu@Ag nanoparticles (NPs) on a TiO2 surface enhances charge separation through plasmonic heterojunctions. These bimetallic Cu@Ag NPs were synthesized via the a galvanic replacement reaction (GRR) involving Ag+ in an aqueous medium and metallic Cu NPs on TiO2. During the GRR, Cuδ+ and Agδ+ charge pairs are generated by electron transfer from the catalyst surface. These charge pairs act as active sites, significantly enhancing photocatalytic hydrogen production. Additionally, the cubic crystalline phase of metallic Cu NPs is maintained after the GRR process with Ag ions, while the size of bimetallic Cu@Ag NPs remains constant. Consequently, Cu@Ag NPs supported on TiO2 (Cu@Ag:TiO2) exhibit increased donor charge density of 1.66 × 1020 cm−3 and facilitate rapid charge transfer. As a result, the photocatalytic hydrogen production rate of Cu@Ag:TiO2 is 20 times higher than that of pristine TiO2. Moreover, the visible-light responsive photocatalytic activity of Cu@Ag:TiO2 NPs reaches 3.4 mmol g−1 over 5 hours, which is 78 times higher than that of pristine TiO2. This remarkable enhancement is attributed to the formation of a plasmonic heterojunction with close contact between Cu@Ag and TiO2, enabling efficient charge carrier separation.
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