Core-satellite optoplasmonic microspheres applied for light-induced degradation of organic additives in electroplating

The introduction of noble metal nanoparticles effectively improves the photocatalytic performance of TiO2 due to the retarded recombination time of the photo-generated electron-hole pairs as well as raised charge transfer rate at interfaces within the composites. In this study, spherical TiO2 particles were prepared by sol-gel reaction and converted into anatase phase by calcination treatment. Ag nanoparticles were deposited on the spherical TiO2, yielding an optoplasmonic core-satellite composite structure. The coverage of Ag nanoparticles on the TiO2 surface was tuned by altering the duration of electroless plating. Due to the enhanced interaction between metal nanoparticle and dielectric component, the photodegradation of organic dyes was promoted accordingly. It was found that with proper Ag deposition degree, the optoplasmonic particle demonstrates the improved photocatalytic performance under ultraviolet and visible excitation. This composite particle was further evaluated in the experiments of practical copper electroplating solution, in which the optoplasmonic particles exhibit promoted photocatalytic activity. This developed structure is therefore a powerful candidate for the low-cost removal of organic additives.