Highly enhanced photoelectric catalysis of WO₃ nanoblocks loaded with Ag nanoparticles

Abstract

WO₃/Ag composite film photoanodes were synthesized by hydrothermal combined electrodeposition method. Characterization of samples was conducted by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), which showed that WO₃/Ag composite films had been synthesized. Diffuse reflectance spectra show WO₃/Ag composite film has more strong absorption than WO₃ film under simulated visible light irradiation. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy shows WO₃/Ag composite film photoanode enhances charge transfer efficiency compared with WO₃ film. WO₃/Ag composite film photoanodes show higher photocurrent and photoelectric catalytic activity than WO₃ film, and the WO₃/Ag composite film obtained by depositing Ag nanoparticles at 50s (WO₃/Ag-50) shows the highest photocurrent and photoelectric photoelectric catalytic activity. Meanwhile, the photoelectric catalytic activity of the composite film is higher than their direct photocatalytic and electric catalytic activity. The higher photocurrent and photoelectric catalytic activity of the WO₃/Ag composite film photoanodes are attributed to the surface plasmon resonance effect of Ag nanoparticles and Schottky junction effect at the WO₃/Ag interface.