Plasmon Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Activity of Ag-Cu Nanoparticles on TiO2/Ti Substrates

Ag-Cu nanoparticles were deposited on titania nanotube arrays via photodeposition method. The photocurrent density and voltage curves were measured under simulated sunlight and visible light irradiation conditions. Ag-Cu co-deposited photoelectrodes with a mole ratio of 1 to 4 exhibited the highest short-circuit photocurrent (J(SC)) under both irradiation conditions. The Mott-Schottky analysis indicates that the Ag-Cu decorated photoelectrodes were more sensitive in the visible light region, and the electron injection efficiency was relatively higher than that of the pure Ag or Cu decorated photoelectrodes. The Schottky barrier analyses indicate that the photoexcited electrons transferred from metal nanoparticles to TiO2.