Electrochemical methods for the preparation of gold-coated TiO2 nanoparticles with variable coverages

Bioinspired Au/N-TiO2 photocatalyst templated from Zea mays Linn. leaves

The leaves of Zea mays Linn. contain abundant nitrogen source and exhibit an extremely high light-harvesting efficiency due to its hierarchical internal structures. In this study, Z. mays Linn. leaves are used as template to generate Au/N-TiO2 nanocomposites through soakage, calcination and Au-nanoparticle-loading processes. Such nanocomposites replicate the special hierarchical structures of Z. mays Linn. leaves featured with lamellar structures at nanoscale, porous framework at microscale and scraggy-shaped epidermal at macroscale. The nitrogen contained in original leaves is doped into anatase TiO2 crystal lattice during the templating process, and Au nanoparticles (~5-nm dia.) are well dispersed at the surface of N-TiO2 structures. With multi-component composition and unique hierarchical structure, the Au/N-TiO2 nanocomposites present superior photocatalytic activity and stability, which are demonstrated through degradation of rhodamine dye under solar light irradiation. This article contains supporting information, which will be made available online once the issue is published. In the meantime, if you wish to get a copy of the supplementary file please contact the Managing Editor, Sohini Banerjee, at sohini.banerjee@icepublishing.com

Depositional Characteristics of Metal Coating on Single-Crystal TiO2 Nanowires

Ultralong single-crystalline TiO(2) nanowires were prepared by a simple, low-cost solvothermal process. Silver nitrate, neodymium chloride, ceric nitrate, stannic chloride hydrate, and cadmium chloride were used as metal sources and deposited by reduction on the surface of TiO(2) nanowires. The composites were subsequently characterized by transmission electron microscopy, and their coverage was compared. The nature of the coatings on the TiO(2) nanowires varies from metal to metal. A novel approach on modified one-dimensional nanostructures with metal coating was developed, which has great potential applications in catalysts, sensors, and nanoscale devices.