Photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanotube layers loaded with Ag and Au nanoparticles

Ag and Au nanoparticles were found to significantly enhance the photocatalytic activity of self-organized TiO2 nanotubular structures. The catalyst systems are demonstrated to be highly efficient for the UV-light induced photocatalytic decomposition of a model organic pollutant – Acid Orange 7. The metallic nanoparticles with a diameter of ∼10 ± 2 nm (Ag) and ∼28 ± 3 nm (Au) were attached to a nanotubular TiO2 layer that consists of individual tubes of ∼100 nm of diameter, ∼2 μm in length and approx. 15 nm of wall thickness. Both metal particle catalyst systems enhance the photocatalytic decomposition significantly more on the nanotubes support than placed on a compact TiO2 surface.