Gold-plasmon enhanced photocatalytic performance of anatase titania nanotubes under visible-light irradiation

[3-Aminopropyl]trimethoxysilane-modified titania nanotubes decorated with Au nanoparticles (APTMS/(TNTs-Au)) nanocomposites were synthesized using a deposition-precipitation process. The results showed that Au nanoparticles (NPs) in the metallic state were firmly adhered to the surface of the anatase TNTs. APTMS/(TNTs-Au) exhibited great photocatalytic activities which were evaluated from the degradation rate of methylene blue aqueous solution under visible light irradiation. 3D finite-difference time domain simulation was performed to estimate the electromagnetic field distribution at the interface between TNTs and Au NPs. The visible photocatalytic activity of APTMS/(TNTs-Au) was largely attributed to the surface plasmon absorption of metallic Au NPs, which generated and transferred hot electrons to the CB of TNTs. In addition, the hot electrons on the surface of TNTs also suppressed the radiative electron-hole recombination and consequently enhanced the photocatalytic activity. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.