Scalable and stable silica-coated silver nanoparticles, produced by electron beam evaporation and rapid thermal annealing, for plasmon-enhanced photocatalysis

• Published in: Catalysis communications Vol. 149; p. 106213
• Main Authors: Betancourt, Amaury P., Goswami, D. Yogi, Bhethanabotla, Venkat R., Kuhn, John N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.01.2021; Elsevier
• Subjects: Electron beam evaporation; Finite difference time domain; Plasmonic stability; Rapid thermal annealing; Silica coating; Silver nanoparticles; Rapid thermal annealing; Silica coating; Plasmonic stability; Finite difference time domain; Silver nanoparticles; Electron beam evaporation
• ISSN: 1566-7367; 1873-3905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.catcom.2020.106213

This study demonstrates an easy, scalable way to fabricate stable plasmonic photocatalysts for gas-phase photocatalysis. Silver nanoparticles, coated with silica for improved stability, were fabricated via electron beam evaporation and rapid thermal annealing, modeled via finite difference time domain simulations, and characterized. Catalytic performance was evaluated by monitoring total volatile organic compound concentration from toluene degradation in a gas-phase recirculating batch reactor. Results of cycled experiments demonstrate 5-fold increase in apparent quantum yield and 18% increase in reaction rate constant over TiO2. This approach may enable plasmonic photocatalysis by offering a simple, scalable fabrication method more reliable than colloidal synthesis. [Display omitted] •Plasmonics fabrication via electron beam evaporation and rapid thermal annealing.•Finite Difference Time Domain model shows UV absorbance and enhanced e-field.•Plasmonic enhancement over TiO2 for gas-phase photocatalytic toluene degradation.•Catalysts exhibited stability and consistent performance over cycled experiments.