Liquid Metal/Metal Oxide Frameworks with Incorporated Ga₂O₃ for Photocatalysis

Solvothermally synthesized Ga₂O₃ nanoparticles are incorporated into liquid metal/metal oxide (LM/MO) frameworks in order to form enhanced photocatalytic systems. The LM/MO frameworks, both with and without incorporated Ga₂O₃ nanoparticles, show photocatalytic activity due to a plasmonic effect where performance is related to the loading of Ga₂O₃ nanoparticles. Optimum photocatalytic efficiency is obtained with 1 wt % incorporation of Ga₂O₃ nanoparticles. This can be attributed to the sub-bandgap states of LM/MO frameworks, contributing to pseudo-ohmic contacts which reduce the free carrier injection barrier to Ga₂O₃.