Surface modification of nanoporous anodic alumina photonic crystals for photocatalytic applications

Siew Yee Lim; Cheryl Suwen Law; Abel Santos

doi:10.1117/12.2282248

2 January 2018 Surface modification of nanoporous anodic alumina photonic crystals for photocatalytic applications

Siew Yee Lim, Cheryl Suwen Law, Abel Santos

Proceedings Volume 10456, Nanophotonics Australasia 2017; 1045658 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2282248
Event: SPIE Nanophotonics Australasia, 2017, Melbourne, Australia

Abstract

Herein, we report on the development of a rationally designed composite photocatalyst material by combining nanoporous anodic alumina-rugate filters (NAA-RFs) with photo-active layers of titanium dioxide (TiO₂). NAA-RFs are synthesised by sinusoidal pulse anodisation and subsequently functionalised with TiO₂ by sol-gel method to provide the photonic structures with photocatalytic properties. We demonstrate that the characteristic photonic stopband (PSB) of the surface-modified NAA-RFs can be precisely tuned across the UV-visible-NIR spectrum to enhance the photon-toelectron conversion of TiO₂ by ‘slow photon effect’. We systematically investigate the effect of the anodisation parameters (i.e. anodisation period and pore widening time) on the position of the PSB of NAA-RFs as well as the photocatalytic performances displayed by these photonic crystal structures. When the edges of the PSB of surfacemodified NAA-RFs are positioned closely to the absorption peak of the model organic dye (i.e. methyl orange – MO), the photocatalytic performance of the system to degrade these molecules is enhanced under simulated solar light irradiation due to slow photon effect. Our investigation also reveals that the photocatalytic activity of surface-modified NAA-RFs is independent of slow photon effect and enhances with increasing period length (i.e. increasing anodisation period) of the photonic structures when there is no overlap between the PSB and the absorption peak of MO. This study therefore provides a rationale towards the photocatalytic enhancement of photonic crystals by a rational design of the PSB, creating new opportunities for the future development of high-performance photocatalysts.

Citation Download Citation

Siew Yee Lim, Cheryl Suwen Law, and Abel Santos "Surface modification of nanoporous anodic alumina photonic crystals for photocatalytic applications", Proc. SPIE 10456, Nanophotonics Australasia 2017, 1045658 (2 January 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2282248

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available