Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange by Au/TiO2 nanotubes

• Au/TiO2 NTs hybrids were successfully prepared by a simple method.
• Properties of the hybrids were related to the concentration of Au deposited on the TiO2 NTs.
• The best dosage of Au deposited in and around TiO2 NTs is found.

Au/TiO2 nanotubes catalyst was successfully synthetized through the calcination of TiO2 with HAuCl4. The Au nanoparticles were formed both on internal and external walls of TiO2 nanotubes. The degradation of methyl orange (MO) was used as a model reaction to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of the obtained catalyst. It was found that the degradation ratio of Au/TiO2 nanotubes hybrids was improved as compared with that of pure TiO2 nanotubes. Moreover, it turned out that different ratios of Au/TiO2 influenced the degradation activity and the TiO2 nanotubes modified with 0.02 M HAuCl4 aqueous solution exhibited the best performance.

The schematic fabrication of Au/TiO2 NTs.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide