Plasmon Resonance Enhanced Photocatalysis Under Visible Light with Au/Cu–TiO2 Nanoparticles: Removal of Cr (VI) from Water as a Case Study

TitlePlasmon Resonance Enhanced Photocatalysis Under Visible Light with Au/Cu–TiO2 Nanoparticles: Removal of Cr (VI) from Water as a Case Study
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2013
AuthorsGondal M.A, Dastageer M.A, Rashid S.G, Zubair S.M, Ali M.A, Anjum D.H, Lienhard J.H, McKinley G.H, Varanasi K.K
JournalScience of Advanced Materials
Volume5
Issue12
Pagination1-8
Abstract

Gold modified copper doped titania (Au/Cu:TiO2) nanoparticles were synthesized by a modified sol gel method and characterized using XRD, optical and TEM based techniques. The as-prepared material contained anatase phase particles with quasi-spherical morphology, showing enhanced absorption in the visible region and low photoluminescence emission intensity. Photocatalytic reduction of Cr (VI) in aqueous suspension with the Au/Cu:TiO2 catalyst under 532 nm laser radiation and a visible broad band lamp source yielded 96% and 45% removal, respectively, without any additives. The enhanced photocatalytic activity can be attributed to the improved plasmonic effect due to gold modification and the expanded visible absorption due to copper doping. Moreover a comparative study of the material properties and catalytic activity of TiO2, Cu-TiO2 and Au/Cu-TiO2 was carried out.

DOI10.1166/sam.2013.1669