Hollow Gold-Silver Nanoshells Coated with Ultrathin SiO2 Shells for Plasmon-Enhanced Photocatalytic Applications

This article details the preparation of hollow gold-silver nanoshells (GS-NSs) coated with tunably thin silica shells for use in plasmon-enhanced photocatalytic applications. Hollow GS-NSs were synthesized via the galvanic replacement of silver nanoparticles. The localized surface plasmon resonance...

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Published inMaterials Vol. 13; no. 21; p. 4967
Main Authors Srinoi, Pannaree, Marquez, Maria, Lee, Tai-Chou, Lee, T.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel MDPI AG 04.11.2020
MDPI
Subjects
Acids
Alternative energy sources
core-shell nanoparticles
Electron microscopy
Gold
gold-silver nanoshells
Hydrogen
Image transmission
Infrared radiation
Light
metal nanoparticles
Metal oxides
Methods
Nanoparticles
Optical properties
Photocatalysis
Potassium
Quantum dots
Saline solutions
Silica
silica shells
Silicon dioxide
Silver
Sodium silicates
Solar energy
Stability
Thickness
United States > US
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Summary:This article details the preparation of hollow gold-silver nanoshells (GS-NSs) coated with tunably thin silica shells for use in plasmon-enhanced photocatalytic applications. Hollow GS-NSs were synthesized via the galvanic replacement of silver nanoparticles. The localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) peaks of the GS-NSs were tuned over the range of visible light to near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths by adjusting the ratio of silver nanoparticles to gold salt solution to obtain three distinct types of GS-NSs with LSPR peaks centered near 500, 700, and 900 nm. Varying concentrations of (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane and sodium silicate solution afforded silica shell coatings of controllable thicknesses on the GS-NS cores. For each type of GS-NS, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images verified our ability to grow thin silica shells having three different thicknesses of silica shell (~2, ~10, and ~15 nm) on the GS-NS cores. Additionally, energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectra confirmed the successful coating of the GS-NSs with SiO2 shells having controlled thicknesses. Extinction spectra of the as-prepared nanoparticles indicated that the silica shell has a minimal effect on the LSPR peak of the gold-silver nanoshells.
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ISSN:1996-1944
1996-1944
DOI:10.3390/ma13214967