Characterization of Au/TiO2 nanocomposite and its application on photocatalysis for methylene blue degradation

Au nanoparticles are modified on the surface of TiO2 particles with a surface plasmon effect that can increase the local light intensity at the contact surface of Au and TiO2 nanoparticles. Au/TiO2 nanocomposites with different Au content of 0.5%; 1%; 3% and 5% were prepared by photochemical reduction method. Au nanoparticles with small sizes of about 2 nm are tightly distributed on the surface of TiO2 nanoparticles and form composite material particles with sizes from 100 nm to 150 nm. In summary, the Au1%/TiO2 exhibited the best photocatalytic activity.