Fabrication of Au/TiO2 nanowires@carbon fiber paper ternary composite for visible-light photocatalytic degradation of gaseous styrene

In this work, Au nanoparticles decorated TiO2 nanowires onto hierarchically porous carbon fiber paper (Au/TiO(2)NWs@CFP) ternary composite was synthesized using a combining approach of wet coating, hydrothermal growth and photoreduction. Characterization revealed that the 3D network of CFP was homogeneously encapsulated by Au nanoparticles (1.8 nm in diameter) decorated anatase TiO2 NWs with diameter of 15-30 nm and length of several microns. The formation of the Au/TiO(2)NWs@CFP composite undergoes the following three key-steps: formation of TiO2 islands on CFP, in-situ growth of TiO2 NWs on the TiO2 islands and deposition of Au NPs onto TiO2 NWs. Photocatalytic degradation of gaseous styrene showed that Au/TiO(2)NWs@CFP exhibited the excellent photoactivity and photostability under visible light irradiation. It is attributed to the synergistic effect of the three components (TiO2 NWs, CFP and Au nanoparticles), which can enhance visible light absorption intensity, reduce the recombination of photogenerated charges and holes, as well as improve the adsorption of organic pollutants. The present strategy would offer an effective way for the synthesis of ternary composite photocatalyst and its application to air purification under visible light irradiation. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.