Impact of Zr/Ti ratio in the PZT on the photoreduction of silver nanoparticles

Silver nanoparticle deposition from an aqueous solution of silver nitrate onto the surface of PZT thin films of stoichiometric compositions PbZr0.3Ti0.7O3 and PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3 has been investigated. The impact of Zr/Ti ratio on the photochemical properties of PZT is shown by the preferential growth of silver nanoparticles onto the surface. Photoreduction of silver occurs on both c+ and c− domains on PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3 whereas it occurs only on c+ domains on a PbZr0.3Ti0.7O3 surface. The difference in deposition pattern is attributed to difference in magnitude of spontaneous polarization, effective hole concentration and band gap of the two samples which impacts shape and width of space charge layer in the two samples resulting in a change in band bending at the surface.