Plasmon mediated visible light photocurrent and photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation using Au nanoparticles/TiO2 electrode

•The Au nanoparticle-loaded TiO2 films were prepared by magnetron sputtering.•The Au nanoparticles have different size and morphology.•The composite structures show enhanced visible light photocatalytic activities.•The structures show an enhanced photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation.

Gold-nanoparticles/titanium dioxide (TiO2) composite structures that support localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) in the visible region are prepared by thermal annealing thin gold films deposited on a TiO2 layer. Associated with the excitation of LSPRs, the prepared gold nanoparticle-loaded TiO2 could work as visible responsive photocatalysts to produce a greatly enhanced photocurrent density. By varying the initial gold film thickness, such gold nanoparticle-loaded TiO2 composite structures could be optimized to obtain the highest photocurrent generation efficiency. Furthermore, with the optimal plasmonic photocatalysts, we also show a considerably enhanced photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation from the platinum counter electrode.

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