LSPR-driven upconversion enhancement and photocatalytic H2 evolution for Er-Yb:TiO2/MoO3-x nano-semiconductor heterostructure

• Published in: Ceramics international Vol. 45; no. 13; pp. 16625 - 16630
• Main Authors: Shang, Jingyu, Xu, Xuesong, Liu, Kuichao, Bao, Yanan, Yangyang, He, Ming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2019
• Subjects: Ammonia borane; Charge carriers channel; Er-Yb:TiO2/MoO3-x NSH; H2 producing; Upconversion luminescence; Er-Yb:TiO2/MoO3-x NSH; Charge carriers channel; H2 producing; Upconversion luminescence; Ammonia borane
• ISSN: 0272-8842; 1873-3956
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2019.05.203

Localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPR) are widely employed for improving the upconversion luminescence (UCL) and photocatalysis. Here, we prepare a nano-semiconductor heterostructure (NSH) consisting of Er-Yb:TiO2 nanosheets (NTs) integrated with plasmonic MoO3-x NTs in a two-step solvothermal processes. The LSPR of MoO3-x amplifies and transfers the near-infrared (NIR) energy to the neighboring Er-Yb:TiO2 UC system, leading to a 182-fold increase in green emissions. Moreover, the LSPR effect extends the absorption range of the Er-Yb:TiO2/MoO3-x NSH from the visible to the NIR region. The interface of the Er-Yb:TiO2/MoO3-x NSH acts as a charge carrier channel to separate the plasmon-induced electrons and holes effectively. We perform H2 production experiments of Er-Yb:TiO2/MoO3-x NSH from ammonia borane (BH3NH3). Upon the excitation of a 980 nm laser, the H2 production of the Er-Yb:TiO2/MoO3-x NSH is 1.5 times and 61 times higher than that of the MoO3-x NTs and BH3NH3. In addition, the H2 yield is 2.5 times and 52 times higher than that of the MoO3-x NTs and BH3NH3 under the irradiation of simulated sunlight (AM 1.5), demonstrating the superior photocatalytic properties of the Er-Yb:TiO2/MoO3-x NSH.