Spatially Selective Photochemical Reduction of Silver on the Surface of Ferroelectric Barium Titanate

When BaTiO3 is immersed in an aqueous AgNO3 solution and illuminated by UV light, silver metal deposits on the surface in patterns determined by the ferroelectric domain structure. Because the photochemical reduction of Ag occurs preferentially on the positive ends of the dipoles, metal patterns with submicron dimensions are produced. The static dipolar field in certain domains is thought to promote the transport of photogenerated electrons to the solid−liquid interface where they reduce silver cations.