title: Decoration of TiO2 nanotubes with metal nanoparticles using polyoxometalate as a UV-switchable reducing agent for enhanced visible and solar light photocatalysis.
abstract: We present the employment of the Keggin ion 12-phosphotungstic acid as a UV-switchable reducing agent for the decoration of Au, Ag, Pt, and Cu nanoparticles onto the surface of TiO(2) nanotubes synthesized by electrochemical anodization. The synthesized composites were studied using SEM, GADDS XRD, and EDX, and the photocatalytic activity of the composites was examined by measuring the photodegradation of the organic dye "Congo red" under simulated solar light. Decoration with metal nanoparticles was observed to enhance the activity of the photocatalytic process by upward of 100% with respect to unmodified TiO(2) nanotubes.
authors.affiliation: NanoBiotechnology Research Lab (NBRL), RMIT University, GPO Box 2476V, Melbourne, VIC, 3001 Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: Haidong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Kourosh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kalantar-Zadeh
authors.forename: Suresh K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Bhargava
authors.forename: Vipul
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bansal
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D004563:Electrochemistry; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry*; D010772:Phosphotungstic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D019163:Reducing Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D017973:Tungsten Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D000099294:Polyoxometalates
chemical_list: D010772:Phosphotungstic Acid; D019163:Reducing Agents; D014025:Titanium; D017973:Tungsten Compounds; C102296:polyoxometalate I; D000099294:Polyoxometalates; C009495:titanium dioxide