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Pure Appl. Chem., 2002, Vol. 74, No. 9, pp. 1693-1706

http://dx.doi.org/10.1351/pac200274091693

Photoinduced transformations in semiconductor­metal nanocomposite assemblies

Prashant V. Kamat

Notre Dame Radiation Laboratory, Notre Dame, IN 46556-0579, USA

Abstract: Semiconductor­metal nanocomposites provide a simple and convenient way to tailor the properties of photocatalysts. Modification of semiconductor surface improves charge separation and promotes interfacial charge-transfer processes in nanocomposite systems. Charge accumulation in the metal layer results in Fermi-level equilibration raising the quasi-Fermi level of the composite close to the conduction band level of the oxide semiconductor. Phototransformations of such compositesincluding morphological changes, interfacial charge-transfer processes and photocurrent generation of TiO2-capped gold colloidsare presented in this review article.