Au/TiO2 coatings for photocatalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol with green light

Au/TiO2 catalytic coatings have been developed onto the inner surface of a quartz tube for photocatalytic applications. Gold nanoparticles with diameter 3–5 nm were synthesised using the citrate method, with sodium borohydride as a reducing agent. The nanoparticles were characterised by UV–vis spectroscopy, small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The photocatalytic activity of gold nanoparticles and Au/TiO2 catalytic coatings was studied in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) with green LEDs. The reaction rate follows Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics and increases with the light intensity until a plateau at 3 mW cm−2. The photocatalytic activity of gold nanoparticles was fully preserved in the Au/TiO2 coatings.