Pulsed Laser Deposition under Low Background Gas Pressure

The nucleation of nanoparticles was applied during gold deposition onto TiO2 layers. For nucleation, up to 10 Pa of inert gas (argon) was used. Argon molecules efficiently helped to cool temperature of evolving plume and initiated the nucleation which resulted in deposition of gold nanoislands. Gold nanoparticles incorporated in TiO2 layers provided plasmonic properties. Au/TiO2 layers were used for water splitting as proved by photoelectrochemical measurements.