Ultrafast dynamics of Ag/AgCl as a plasmonic photocatalyst

• Main Author: Neo, Chee Yong
• Other Authors: Sum Tze Chien
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: DRNTU::Science::Physics::Optics and light
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/53658
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Plamsmonic photocatalysts have recently garnered much attention due to their enhanced e ciency in converting chemicals to harmless products. Ag/AgCl was the rst of such structure to exhibit the degradation of MO in the presence of visible light1, and since then, many other viable materials have seen been discovered2. However, the ultrafast dynamics of such noble metal/semiconductor plasmonic photocatalysts has not been studied by the community. The ability to identify charge carrier dynamics is one of key importance in understanding the characteristics of the material. This study attempts to solve this lack of information by studying how the morphology and the corresponding charge dynamics of a core shell cube of AgCl changes when it is exposed to a laser for more than 12h. From the studies, it is found that Ag structures have formed on the surface due to migration of elemental Ag onto the surface. This change has lead to an ampli cation of the e ects of Ag on the surface of AgCl allowing the study of the charge dynamics of the combined structure. The charge dynamics show results contrary to current proposed mechanics, but further investigation is needed to verify the origin of the charge dynamics observed.