Mono- and bi-metallic plasmonic photocatalysts for degradation of organic compounds under UV and visible light irradiation

- Nanostructure of Au/Ag@TiO2 is responsible for enhanced or reduced photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation.
- Individual metals rather than core(Au)-shell(Ag) deposits cause higher activity under visible light irradiation.
- 3D-FDTD simulations indicate strong field enhancement at the interface between core(Au)-shell(Ag) nanoparticle and titania.
- 3D-FDTD simulations confirm electron rather than energy transfer as the predominant mechanism for plasmonic titania.
- Possible mechanism for activity inhibition for core(Au)-shell(Ag) titania was addressed.