Absorption, emission, charge transfer resistance and photocatalytic activity of Al2O3/TiO2 core/shell nanoparticles

• Core/shell Al2O3/TiO2 (anatase) nanoparticles synthesized by sol–gel method.
• Absorption and emission of Al2O3/TiO2 nanoparticles similar to anatase TiO2.
• TiO2-coated Al2O3 shows photoconduction.
• Core/shell Al2O3/TiO2 nanoparticles photocatalytically degrade dyes.

Al2O3/TiO2 core/shell nanoparticles were prepared by sol–gel technique. The scanning electron micrograph reveals the synthesized nanomaterial as polycrystalline. While the obtained material displays the X-ray diffractogram of anatase TiO2 shell the energy dispersive X-ray spectrum shows the presence of Al in the Al2O3 core. The band gap energy of the prepared composite nanoparticles is 3.2 eV and the observed photoluminescence is characteristic of TiO2 shell. The solid state impedance spectrum of the synthesized nanoparticles is similar to that of TiO2. The prepared nanocomposite shows photoconductance revealing photogeneration of electron–hole pairs. The synthesized nanomaterial photocatalytically degrades dyes effectively.

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