Photoelectrochemical Behavior of Silver Nanoparticles inside Mesoporous Titania: Plasmon-Induced Charge Separation Effect

Abstract : The self-assembly block copolymer method was used to synthesize mesoporous titania films and silver nanoparticles (NPs) were grown inside the films. Such silver NPs-titania films are known for their multicolor photochromic properties due to a photo-oxidation reaction of silver in the presence of titania under light excitation which is attributed to a plasmon induced charge separation. Here, the photoelectrochemical properties of these composite films have been investigated at different light wavelengths and chemical environment in order to characterize the light-induced redox reactivity modifications. Cyclic voltammetry study shows that the Ag+ electro-reduction peak potential varies depending on the light irradiation, which determines the state of the silver nanoparticles complexed or not by titania.