Controllable fabrication and photocatalysis of ZnO/Au nanohybrids via regenerative ion exchange and reduction cycles

Abstract

A facile and convenient approach was introduced to fabricate ZnO/Au nanohybrids with tunable Au contents. The repeated loading of Au nanoparticles on the surface of ZnO nanorods was achieved via 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane-mediated regenerative exchange of AuCl₄⁻ ions and subsequent reduction cycles. X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were all used to characterize as-prepared ZnO/Au nanohybrids. The attachment of Au nanoparticles onto the ZnO supports significantly altered the interfacial charge transfer process and resulted in a marked decrease in the intensity of photoluminescence peaks. Owing to their special geometry, electronic structure, and particular interphase boundaries, such ZnO/Au nanohybrids exhibited enhanced photocatalytic performance, and hold promising applications in water purification and antibacterial products.