Abstract
Ag and Au nanoparticles were found to significantly enhance the photocatalytic activity of self-organized TiO2 nanotubular structures. The catalyst systems are demonstrated to be highly efficient for the UV-light induced photocatalytic decomposition of a model organic pollutant - Acid Orange 7. The metallic nanoparticles with a diameter of similar to 10 +/- 2 nm (Ag) and similar to 28 +/- 3 nm (Au) were attached to a nanotubular TiO2 layer that consists of individual tubes of similar to 100 nm of diameter, similar to 2 mu m in length and approx. 15 nm of wall thickness. Both metal particle catalyst systems enhance the photocatalytic decomposition significantly more on the nanotubes support than placed on a compact TiO2 surface. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.