Interface structure of gold particles on TiO2anatase

Abstract

Gold particles supported on titanium dioxide (TiO2) are known to activate many catalytic reactions. In this study, interface structure of gold on anatase was examined in the case on an anatase {101} surface, since the surface is the most important for several photocatalytic reactions. Anatase TiO2 nanorods having clear washboard-like {101} outer surfaces were synthesized by using a double surfactants system. From high resolution electron microscopy observation for gold particle on the {101} surface, the (113) plane of gold was found to be parallel to the (101) surface of TiO2. Such an epitaxy is corresponding to be the axial and planar orientations of [03¯1} (200)Au // [3¯11¯] (113)TiO2, being originated from the smallest lattice mismatching, instead of the previous cases of [011¯] (111)Au // [021¯] (112)TiO2 on the {110} and {112} surfaces of anatase TiO2. © 2011 The Japan Institute of Metals.