A simple sol-gel synthesis method has been developed to synthesize uniform nanospheres of gold lithium-doped titanium dioxide in anatase phase (Au/Li-TiO₂) with a well-defined core-shell structure with the Li-doped titania as shell and Au nanoparticles as core. The resulting core-shell nanoparticles have a high surface area (~494 m²/g) and uniform pore size (~3.5 nm) for the anatase shell. The synthesis of the gold nanoparticles refers to the classical Turkevich synthesis, and the diameter can be regulated by adjusting the amount of HAuCl₄. The gold nanoparticles were first covered with citrate group and subsequently removed by thermal treatment. The catalytic performance of Au/Li-TiO₂ was investigated using the degradation of rhodamine B in water for a model reaction using UVb and visible light. The high surface area of the anatase shells provides direct access for the reactant molecules to diffuse and subsequently interact with the gold cores.

Graphical abstract

已开发出一种简单的溶胶-凝胶合成方法，以锐钛矿相（Au / Li-TiO ₂）合成具有明确定义的核-壳结构，以锂掺杂的二氧化钛为壳和掺杂的锐钛矿相的金锂掺杂的二氧化钛均匀的纳米球。以金纳米颗粒为核。所得的核-壳纳米颗粒对于锐钛矿型壳具有高的表面积（〜494 m ² / g）和均匀的孔径（〜3.5 nm）。金纳米颗粒的合成是指经典的Turkevich合成，并且可以通过调节HAuCl ₄的量来调节直径。金纳米颗粒首先被柠檬酸盐基团覆盖，然后通过热处理除去。Au / Li-TiO ₂的催化性能使用若丹明B在水中的降解进行了研究，以使用UVb和可见光进行模型反应。锐钛矿壳的高表面积为反应物分子扩散和随后与金核相互作用提供了直接途径。

图形概要