Application of WO3 thin films for enhancement of photolysis in AgCl

A double-layer AgCl–WO3 structure was employed to produce photochemical hydrogen for doping of an AgCl film. Atomic photochemical hydrogen, detached under the action of light from hydrogen donor molecules, previously adsorbed on the WO3 surface, migrated through the WO3 film into the AgCl film, which provided doping of the AgCl surface and yielded hydrogen sensitization simultaneous to illumination and yielded the enhancement of photochromism in the AgCl films. The atomic hydrogen played the role of a reducing agent and triggered the formation of sensitization centers on the halide surface, which in turn facilitated the growth of silver clusters and colloids under the action of light. The double-layer AgCl–WO3 structure realizes the idea of two-stage catalysis: first the oxide surface catalyses hydrogen production under the action of light, then the photochemical hydrogen atoms act as catalysts during the photolysis of the halide.