Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticle-Embedded Silver Cubic Mesh Nanostructures Using AgCl Nanocubes for Plasmonic Photocatalysis

Abstract

A novel room-temperature aqueous synthesis for gold nanoparticle-embedded silver cubic mesh nanostructures using AgCl templates via a template-assisted coreduction method is developed. The cubic AgCl templates are coreduced in the presence of AuCl₄^- and Ag⁺ , resulting in the reduction of AuCl₄^- into gold nanoparticles on the outer region of AgCl templates, followed by the reduction of AgCl and Ag⁺ into silver cubic mesh nanostructures. Removal of the template clearly demonstrates the delicately designed silver mesh nanostructures embedded with gold nanoparticles. The synthetic mechanism, structural properties, and surface functionalization are spectroscopically investigated. The plasmonic photocatalysis of the cubic mesh nanostructures for the degradation of organic pollutants and removal of highly toxic metal ions is investigated; the photocatalytic activity of the cubic mesh nanostructures is superior to those of conventional TiO₂ catalysts and they are catalytically functional even in natural water, owing to their high surface area and excellent chemical stability. The synthetic development presented in this study can be exploited for the highly elaborate, yet, facile design of nanomaterials with outstanding properties.

Keywords: environmental sustainability; nanocube; nanomesh; plasmonic photocatalysts; template synthesis.