Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue by metal-modified silicon nanowires

•SiNWs modified with Pd, Au and Pt were used as photocatalysts to degrade MB.•Yield of photodegardation increases with UV irradiation time.•SiNWs modified with Pd nanoparticles show the best photocatalytic activity.•A degradation of 97% was obtained after 200 min of UV irradiation.

Silicon nanowires (SiNWs) modified with Au, Pt and Pd nanoparticles were used as heterogeneous photocatalysts for the photodegradation of methylene blue in water under UV light irradiation. The modification of SiNWs was carried out by deposition of metal nanoparticles using the electroless metal deposition (EMD) technique. The effect of metal nanoparticles deposition time on the photocatalytic activity was studied. It was found that the photocatalytic activity of modified SiNWs was enhanced when the deposition time of metal nanoparticles was increased. In addition of modified SiNWs with Pt, Au and Pd nanoparticles, oxidized silicon substrate (Ox-Si), oxidized silicon nanowires (Ox-SiNWs) and hydrogen-terminated silicon nanowires (H-SiNWs) were also evaluated for the photodegradation of methylene blue.

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