Synthesis and characterization of plasmonic Au/TiO2 nanorod solids for heterogeneous photocatalysis

Abstract

Plasmonic Au (1 wt%) catalysts deposited on hydrothermally synthesized TiO2 nanorods (TNR) were investigated in this study. Based on the duration of mixing of the Au precursor/TNR suspension during the wet impregnation synthesis and parameters of the end calcination, Au/TiO2 catalysts with different sizes of Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) were obtained. The prepared solids were thoroughly characterized by several instrumental techniques to investigate property-activity relationships. Regardless of the size of Au particles on the catalyst surface, an absorption peak at 550 nm occurred in all UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra of the investigated Au/TiO2 catalysts, which is characteristic of the localized surface plasmon resonance effect exerted by metallic Au NPs. By measuring the formation of reactive oxygen species under visible-light illumination using various scavengers, the production of superoxide anion radicals (O2•) and hydroxyl radicals were identified, however, the former were found to represent the main reactive oxygen species that govern the oxidation of aqueous bisphenol A (BPA) employed as a model organic pollutant. The activity of Au/TiO2 catalysts for the generation of O2• radicals (and BPA oxidation) increases by increasing the Schottky barrier height, which is due to the slow reduction of water-dissolved O2 on the catalyst surface.