We describe here a one-step method for the synthesis of Au/TiO 2 nanosphere materials, which were formed by layered deposition of multiple anatase TiO 2 nanosheets. The Au nanoparticles were stabilized by structural defects in each TiO 2 nanosheet, including crystal steps and edges, thereby fixing the Au-TiO 2 perimeter interface. Reactant transfer occurred along the gaps between these TiO 2 nanosheet layers and in contact with catalytically active sites at the Au-TiO 2 interface. The doped Au induced the formation of oxygen vacancies in the Au-TiO 2 interface. Such vacancies are essential for generating active oxygen species (*O − ) on the TiO 2 surface and Ti 3+ ions in bulk TiO 2 . These ions can then form Ti 3+ -O − -Ti 4+ species, which are known to enhance the catalytic activity of formaldehyde (HCHO) oxidation.These studies on structural and oxygen vacancy defects in Au/TiO 2 samples provide a theoretical foundation for the catalytic mechanism of HCHO oxidation on oxide-supported Au materials.
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