Langmuir, Vol.28, No.40, 14470-14475, 2012
Decoration of TiO2 Nanotubes with Metal Nanoparticles Using Polyoxometalate as a UV-Switchable Reducing Agent for Enhanced Visible and Solar Light Photocatalysis
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 TiO2 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 photo-degradation 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 TiO2 nanotubes.