Facet-selective photodeposition of gold nanoparticles on faceted ZnO crystals for visible light photocatalysis

Hexagonal prism-like ZnO crystals dominated with polar facets were synthesized using a hydrothermal method. The Gold (Au) nanoparticles were selectively photodeposited on the polar surfaces of faceted ZnO crystals as a result of anisotropic photocatalytic activities of the polar and nonpolar facets. The size of Au nanoparticles uniformly dispersed on the polar facets increased with increasing Au-loading amount. These Au-loaded ZnO crystals showed an additional visible light absorption band from 400 nm to 800 nm. The 0.1 wt% Au-loaded ZnO crystals with visible light absorption peak at approximately 690 nm exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation.

Graphical abstractThe selective location of Au nanoparticles clearly confirms that polar facets sever as photoreductive sites in the photocatalyitc process.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (104 K)Download as PowerPoint slide