Boosted Photoactivity of Titania Nanotube Layers Doped with a Suspension of Gold Nanoparticles

Abstract

In the present work, we report on the behavior of synthesized gold nanopar-ticles suspension, incorporated in titanium dioxide nanotube layers (TiO 2-NT) and fabricated by electrochemical anodization in 0.4 wt% hydrofluoric acid solution and we study its photocatalytic response. Gold nanoparticles were characterized using Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray dif-fraction. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the morphology of TiO 2 nanotube layers doped by gold nanoparticles. Boosted photocatalytic performances on the degradation of an azo dye were obtained by using TiO 2 nanotube layers doped by gold nanoparticles (Au/TiO 2-NT), compared to undoped TiO 2 nanotube layer (TiO 2-NT) catalysts. Under UV irradiation, this new nanomaterial, with noble metal-semi conductor heterojunction (Au/ TiO 2-NT) exhibits a synergetic effect in accelerating the electron transfert, resulting in an enhanced photoactivity recorded in the kinetics of degradation of Acid Orange 7 (AO7). Chronoamperometry was used to highlight higher photocurrent produced by gold-titania interface submited to UV irradiation .