Noble metal/titanium dioxide nanocermets for photoelectrochemical applications

Noble metal/TiO2 nanocermets were deposited by rf sputtering from Ag:Ti and Au:Ti mosaic targets. Results of studies of the microstructure and the optical properties of Ag:TiO2 and Au:TiO2 thin films are discussed. Nanometric inclusions of Au and Ag in dielectric matrices create conditions for additional absorption band due to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The SPR occuring in the visible region of the light spectrum, at λR=430–450 nm for Ag:TiO2 and at λR=580–630 nm for Au:TiO2, improves the spectral characteristics of TiO2 photoanodes. The presence of SPR is related to the concentration, size and distribution of the noble metal particles.