Mesoporous plasmonic Au-loaded Ta2O5 nanocomposites for efficient visible light photocatalysis

• Au/m-Ta2O5 photocatalyst was first prepared via a facile photodeposition method.
• Catalyst exhibited enhanced visible light activities in water splitting for H2.
• Catalyst exhibited enhanced visible light activities in photodegradation of RhB.
• SPR effect of Au plays a critical role for the enhanced visible light activities.
• Large surface area and mesoporous structure is also related to enhanced activities.

Au-loaded mesoporous Ta2O5 (Au/m-Ta2O5) with high visible light photocatalytic activities were successfully prepared via a facile photodeposition methodology. The photocatalytic activities of Au/m-Ta2O5 were then evaluated by photocatalytic hydrogen production from a methanol aqueous solution as well as photodegradation of Rhodamine B in aqueous solution under visible light irradiation (λ > 400 nm). The photocatalytic experimental results showed that Au/m-Ta2O5 exhibited enhanced visible light photocatalytic activities than those of Au-loaded commercial bulk Ta2O5 (Au/b-Ta2O5). This was mainly due to its large specific surface area and mesoporous structure. The possible visible-light-driven photocatalytic mechanism of Au/Ta2O5 was also proposed.

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