Novel cocoon-like Au/La2O3 nanomaterials: synthesis and their ultra-enhanced cataluminescence performance to volatile organic compounds

Abstract

Cocoon-like Au/La₂O₃ nanomaterials, consisting of numerous intertwined La₂O₃ nanowires having a diameter of about 15–20 nm, have been prepared through calcining Au modified La(OH)₃ precursors. The structure was carefully characterized by SEM (scanning electronic microscopy), TEM (transmission electron microscopy) and XRD (X-ray diffractometry). Au nanoparticles with crystallite sizes about 30 nm were uniformly entangled by the nanowires. The catalytic activities of cocoon-like La₂O₃ supported nano-gold catalysts were thoroughly demonstrated. In contrast to La₂O₃ nanomaterials, the obtained Au/La₂O₃ nanomaterials present excellent cataluminescence behavior (that is, much higher intensity and signal/noise values, and much faster response and recovery time) to volatile organic compounds, such as tetrahydrofuran, acetone, ethanol, benzene, chloroform and chlorobenzene.