Gold Nanorod@TiO₂ Yolk‐Shell Nanostructures for Visible‐Light‐Driven Photocatalytic Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol

Abstract

Fine gold nanorod@TiO2 yolk-shell catalysts are synthesized by an improved silica template method. With a hollow TiO2 shell and a unique tunable cylindrical gold core, the catalyst exhibits a high surface area and a wide range of photoabsorption, from ultraviolet to near infrared. The remarkable photochemical activity is obtained when such catalyst is utilized to oxidize benzyl alcohol.

Traveling Hot Spots in Plasmonic Photocatalysis: Manipulating Interparticle Spacing for Real‐Time Control of Electron Injection

“…The selection of the plasmonic entity is a characteristic of utmost significance for the efficient photoexcitation of the semiconductor with low‐energy photons, as the optical properties of this family of objects are strongly dependent on their size, shape, and chemical composition . Along these lines, the strong absorption contribution of Au nanorods (Au NRs) in the NIR region and their ability to create high electromagnetic field enhancements on their surfaces render these anisotropic nanoparticles ideal candidates for the formation of smart plasmonic photocatalysts . In this regard, controlled plasmonic coupling of these objects has been extensively used for the formation of hot spots, leading to an important increase in the electromagnetic field enhancement in the small gaps created between particles .…”

Spatial separation of oxidation and reduction co-catalysts for efficient charge separation: Pt@TiO2@MnOx hollow spheres for photocatalytic reactions

“…TiO 2 is chosen in this study since it serves as an excellent benchmark photocatalyst for comparison purposes. 13–15 Additionally, as a model structure, this concept ( i.e. , different cocatalysts are separated by TiO 2 shells completely) can be extended to other redox cocatalysts such as Au, Ag, PbO 2 , etc.…”

Hollow spherical titanium dioxide nanoparticles for energy and environmental applications

“…The effect of TiO 2 morphology on its photo-activity has been widely investigated. Hollow spherical TiO 2 exhibits very high activity in photocatalysis applications, because of its high surface area, controllable shell thickness, tunable surface topology, and easy access by reactants (Jiao et al, 2011;Joo et al, 2013;Li et al, 2015;Ngaw et al, 2014;Tu et al, 2012;Wang, Lu, et al, 2014;Xue, Wang, Yang, Yang, & Ding, 2014).…”

“…These strategies enhanced the absorption of the TiO 2 hollow spheres, which in turn exhibited an improved dye degradation activity under visible irradiation. Controlling the configuration of plasmonic metal-composited TiO 2 hollow spheres has also been investigated (Li et al, 2015). Au nanorod@TiO 2 yolk-shell structures were obtained using Au nanorod@SiO 2 core-shell nanoparticles as hard templates (Fig.…”