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@article{Kafizas:2011:10.1039/c1cp20624a,
author = {Kafizas, A and Dunnill, CW and Parkin, IP},
doi = {10.1039/c1cp20624a},
journal = {Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics},
pages = {13827--13827},
title = {The relationship between photocatalytic activity and photochromic state of nanoparticulate silver surface loaded titanium dioxide thin-films.},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c1cp20624a},
volume = {13},
year = {2011}
}
TY - JOUR
AB - Anatase titania thin-films were prepared by a modified spray-pyrolysis method. Glass substrates were coated at room temperature with an aerosol-spray of a titania sol-gel solution and then annealed at 500 °C to form rough, transparent, crystalline thin-films of anatase TiO(2). Silver nanoparticles were deposited on the surface of these films by a photo-assisted deposition method; films were dip-coated in methanolic solutions of silver nitrate salt and then photo-irradiated for 5 h with UVC light. The AgNO(3) concentration was adjusted to create an array of films with varying silver loadings. The films displayed photochromism; changing colour to orange-brown in UV-light to colourless under white light. The rates of photochromic change, when subjected to four different lighting conditions (UVC, UVA, white light and dark), were analysed by UV-visible spectroscopy. By assessing the photocatalytic activity to these light sources it was found that the initial photochromic state of the material had a profound effect on the films photocatalytic ability. This effect was more pronounced in the more concentrated silver loaded films; where significant enhancements in photoactivity occurred when reactions were initiated from the photo-reduced state. The mode of improved photocatalysis was attributed to the photo-generated electron trapping by silver nanoparticles, which stabilised photo-generated holes and drove photo-oxidation processes. We believe this is the first study in which the relationship between the photochromic state of a thin-film and its subsequent photocatalytic activity is reported.
AU - Kafizas,A
AU - Dunnill,CW
AU - Parkin,IP
DO - 10.1039/c1cp20624a
EP - 13827
PY - 2011///
SN - 1463-9084
SP - 13827
TI - The relationship between photocatalytic activity and photochromic state of nanoparticulate silver surface loaded titanium dioxide thin-films.
T2 - Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c1cp20624a
UR - http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2011/cp/c1cp20624a
VL - 13
ER -
Dr. Andreas Kafizas
Leader - Solar Coatings Group
e-mail: a.kafizas@imperial.ac.uk
tel: +44(0)20 7594 6752
twitter: @CoatingsSolar