Au Nanoparticle Modified WO₃ Nanorods with Their Enhanced Properties for Photocatalysis and Gas Sensing

Abstract

A novel photocatalysis and gas sensing material was synthesized by decorating Au nanoparticles on tungsten trioxide nanorods. Tungsten trioxide nanorods were prepared through the ion-exchange method combined with hydrothermal treatment and further modified with Au nanoparticles (Au NPs). After Au NPs decorated on the surface of WO 3 nanorods (WO 3 NRs), the reducing gas (hydrogen, methanol, ethanol, etc.) sensing properties and the photocatalytic performance of rhodamine B (RhB) were all greatly improved. Au NP modified WO 3 nanorods (Au NP@WO 3 NRs) exhibit not only larger response (H 2 50 ppm, recovery time lower than 10 s) and better selectivity (Ra/Rg = 6.6) for H 2 gas detection than pure WO 3 NRs but also high photocatalytic properties for the absolute degradation of RhB under simulated sunlight irradiation for 120 min.