Catalytic decoloration of methyl orange solution by nanoporous metals

Abstract

Nanoporous Au exhibits catalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) solution while its counterpart, bulk Au, does not. Other nanoporous metals such as Pd and Ni also exhibited the catalytic MO degradation. Because the degradation occurred under dark conditions, it is clearly distinguished from photocatalytic degradation conventionally observed in TiO₂ and ZnO.