Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of Au/TiO2/SBA-15 for enhanced visible-light photoactivity

In this study, a two-step microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthetic approach was adopted to prepare a Au/TiO2/SBA-15 photocatalyst. Results from X-ray diffraction, N-2 sorption, and transmission electron microscopy analyses confirmed the formation of a composite with an ordered mesoporous structure over highly dispersed TiO2 as well as a close contact between the Au and TiO2 nanoparticles within the SBA-15 framework. Compared to the commercial P25 and TiO2/SBA-15 catalysts, the as-prepared Au/TiO2/SBA-15 photocatalyst exhibited a markedly enhanced photocatalytic activity for the decomposition of methylene blue under visible-light irradiation. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier B.V.