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Functionalized Silicate Sol−Gel-Supported TiO2−Au Core−Shell Nanomaterials and Their Photoelectrocatalytic Activity

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journal contribution
posted on 2010-07-28, 00:00 authored by Alagarsamy Pandikumar, Sepperumal Murugesan, Ramasamy Ramaraj
The N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ethylenediamine (EDAS) derived silicate matrix supported core−shell TiO2−Au nanoparticles (EDAS/(TiO2−Au)nps) were prepared by NaBH4 reduction of HAuCl4 precursor on preformed TiO2 nanoparticles in the presence of EDAS monomer. The core−shell (TiO2−Au)nps nanoparticles were stabilized by the amine functional group of the EDAS silicate sol−gel network. The potential application of this EDAS/(TiO2−Au)nps modified electrode toward the photoelectrochemical oxidation of methanol was explored. The EDAS/(TiO2−Au)nps modified electrode showed a 12-fold enhancement in the catalytic activity toward photoelectrooxidation of methanol when compared to TiO2 dispersed in EDAS silicate sol−gel matrix. This improved photoelectrochemical performance is explained on the basis of beneficial promotion of interfacial charge transfer processes of the EDAS/(TiO2−Au)nps nanocomposite. A methanol oxidation peak current density of 12.3 mA cm−2 was achieved at an optimum loading of Aunps on TiO2 particles. This novel amine functionalized EDAS silicate sol−gel stabilized core−shell (TiO2−Au)nps nanomaterial could be an excellent candidate for the photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical applications.

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