Surface plasmon resonance effect of Ag nanoparticles for improving the photocatalytic performance of biochar quantum-dot/Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ nanosheets

Herein, we report a novel ternary material comprised of Ag nanoparticles and carbon quantum dots (CDs), which are co-loaded using 2D Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ (BIT) sheets. In this system, Ag can be applied as excited electron-hole pairs in the Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ by transferring the plasmonic energy from the metal to the semiconductor. The surface plasmon resonance of Ag can promote the electron transfer properties of the CDs, thereby improving the separation efficiency of the electron-hole pairs. Meanwhile, the CDs can act as an electron buffer to decrease the recombination rate of the electron hole. Moreover, CDs are prepared using a biomaterial, which can provide a chemical group to enhance the electron transfer and connection. The synergistic effects of CDs, Ag, and BIT enable the design of a photocatalytic application with a remarkably improved efficiency and operational stability.