Synergistic effects of electronic structure of WO₃ nanorods with the dominant {001} exposed facets combined with silver size-dependent on the visible-light photocatalytic activity

Novel visible-light-driven plasmonic photocatalyst Ag/WO₃-110 nanorods with the dominant {001} exposed facets were prepared via a two-step hydrothermal treatment and in-situ photoreduction reaction. The as-prepared samples were characterized by various analytical techniques, such as X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectra and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results illustrated that the intrinsic nature of charge separation on the {001} facets of WO₃-110 nanorods as well as the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect of Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) can facilitate the charge transfer between Ag NPs and the {001} facets of WO₃-110 nanorods. Moreover, the size of Ag NPs also plays an important role in the SPR effect and the photogenerated carrier separation. Those Ag NPs loaded on {001} facets of WO₃ nanorods exhibit size-dependent photocatalytic activity for the MO and RhB degradation. Additionally, the underlying photocatalytic reaction mechanism was further investigated by the photoelectrochemical experiment and the controlled experiments using radical scavengers.