Plasmonic Au nanoparticles supported on both sides of TiO ₂ hollow spheres for maximising photocatalytic activity under visible light

Abstract

A strategy of intensifying the visible light harvesting ability of anatase TiO ₂ hollow spheres (HSs) was developed, in which both sides of TiO ₂ HSs were utilised for stabilising Au nanoparticles (NPs) through the sacrificial templating method and convex surface-induced confinement. The composite structure of single Au NP yolk-TiO ₂ shell-Au NPs, denoted as Au@Au(TiO ₂, was rendered and confirmed by the transmission electron microscopy analysis. Au@Au(TiO ₂ showed enhanced photocatalytic activity in the degradation of methylene blue and phenol in aqueous phase under visible light surpassing that of other reference materials such as Au(TiO ₂ by 77% and Au@P25 by 52%, respectively, in phenol degradation.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

TiO ₂ hollow spheres / plasmonic Au nanoparticles / confinement / visible light / photocatalytic degradation

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