Facile synthesis, microstructure, and photo-catalytic activity of novel flower-like apatite@Au composite nanosheet spheres

In this study, novel flower-like apatite@Au composite nanosheet spheres were synthesized through in situ immobilization of Au nanoparticles on the bone-like apatite nanosheets. SEM observations indicated that the as-synthesized spheres had a diameter of 0.8-3 µm and was constructed by numerous primary apatite nanosheets with the thickness around 10 nm. TEM images showed that ∼10 nm Au nanoparticles were immobilized on the apatite nanosheets. When incubated with the mixture of 4-nitrophenol and NaBH4, the resultant apatite@Au composite nanosheet spheres exhibited the superior photo-catalytic activity for reduction of 4-nitrophenol.