PREPARATION OF Au-LOADED TiO₂ BY PHOTOCHEMICAL DEPOSITION AND OZONE PHOTOCATALYTIC DECOMPOSITION

Abstract

In this paper, Au -loaded TiO 2 ( Au/TiO 2 ) photocatalysts were prepared by photochemical deposition method and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results indicated the metallic Au nanoparticles were deposited on the surface of TiO 2 after the high-pressure mercury irradiation and regarded as an electronegative center. The photocatalytic decomposition of gaseous ozone was investigated on TiO 2 and Au -loaded TiO 2 at room temperature. Results indicated that the photocatalytic conversion of ozone can be improved by Au/TiO 2 and photocatalytic activity increased with the increase of the photodeposition time. The photocatalytic removal rate of ozone remained above 96% on the surface of 1% Au/TiO 2 with photodeposition for 120 min under black lamp irradiation for 20 h. Au cluster deposited on the surface of TiO 2 functioned not only as the electron trap center but also as the adsorption site of O 3 in photocatalytic reaction.