Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Engineering the surface structure of brookite-TiO2 nanocrystals with Au nanoparticles by cold-plasma technique and its photocatalytic and self-cleaning property

  • Research paper
  • Published:
Journal of Nanoparticle Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Titanium dioxide (TiO2), a non-toxic semiconductor, has garnered extensive interest due to their excellent photocatalytic and self-cleaning properties. Its wide bandgap with rutile phase (3.0 eV), anatase, and brookite phases (3.2 eV) restricts the visible light photocatalytic applications. An effective approach to address this limitation is decorating the brookite-TiO2 surface by metallic gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) leading to the multi-function photocatalyst. Herein, we have successfully prepared TiO2-Au nanocomposites and investigated their photocatalytic activity and self-cleaning behavior. The obtained photocatalysts were prepared by chemical route (sol-gel and hydrothermal methods) and plasma technique. Characterization was analyzed by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy techniques. TiO2 nanostructures with flower- and rod-like morphology were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. The TiO2 rod-like morphology, which contains 24% anatase and 76% brookite phase, favors the TiO2 surface modification and the later reduction of gold precursor to Au NPs under the microplasma–liquid interaction confirming the durability of material. Photocatalytic properties were evaluated through the photodegradation of dyes rhodamine 101 under the simulated visible light irradiation. The TiO2-Au photocatalysts are active under this condition while the pure TiO2 in form of anatase/brookite mixture exhibit high activity under the ultraviolet light. TiO2-Au NPs showed their enhanced the adsorption capacity (42%), followed by the dye decomposition (87%). Self-cleaning behavior was assessed by measuring the contact angle. The results of anti-fogged and self-cleaning properties from the contact angle measurement express highly applicable for the commercial products in sanitation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

This work has been supported by the research fund of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) with the grant number KHCBVL. 04/21-22. Also, we would like to thank the National Key Laboratory for Electronic Materials and Devices, Institute of Materials Science for experiments and measurements.

References

  1. Lellis B, Fávaro-Polonio CZ, Pamphile JA, Polonio JC (2019) Effects of textile dyes on health and the environment and bioremediation potential of living organisms. Biotechnol Res Innov 3(2):275–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Yaseen DA, Scholz M (2019) Textile dye wastewater characteristics and constituents of synthetic effluents: a critical review. Int J Environ Sci Technol 16:1193–1226

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Lachheb H, Puzenat E, Houas A, Ksibi M, Elaloui E, Guillard C, Herrmann J-M (2002) Photocatalytic degradation of various types of dyes (Alizarin S, Crocein Orange G, Methyl Red, Congo Red, Methylene Blue) in water by UV-irradiated titania. Appl Catal B Environ 39(1):75–90

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Al-Tohamy R, Ali SS, Li F, Okasha KM, Mahmoud YA-G, Elsamahy T, Jiao H, Fu Y, Sun J (2022) A critical review on the treatment of dye-containing wastewater: ecotoxicological and health concerns of textile dyes and possible remediation approaches for environmental safety. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 231:113160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.113160

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Bayomie OS, Kandeel H, Shoeib T, Yang H, Youssef N, El-Sayed MMH (2020) Novel approach for effective removal of methylene blue dye from water using fava bean peel waste. Sci Rep 10(1):7824. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-64727-5

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Mokif L (2019) Removal methods of synthetic dyes from industrial wastewater: a review. Mesopotamia Environ J 5(1):23–40

    Google Scholar 

  7. Banerjee S, Dionysiou DD, Pillai SC (2015) Self-cleaning applications of TiO2 by photo-induced hydrophilicity and photocatalysis. Appl Catal B Environ 176–177:396–428

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Li Z, Cong S, Xu Y (2014) Brookite vs anatase TiO2 in the photocatalytic activity for organic degradation in water. ACS Catal 4(9):3273–3280

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Do HH, Tran TKC, Ung TDT, Dao NT, Nguyen DD, Trinh TH, Hoang TD, Le TL, Tran TTH (2021) Controllable fabrication of photocatalytic TiO2 brookite thin film by 3D-printing approach for dyes decomposition. J Water Process Eng 43:102319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. He Z, Su Y, Yang S, Wu L, Liu S, Ling C, Yang H (2016) Hierarchical structure engineering of brookite TiO2 crystals for enhanced photocatalytic and external antitumor property. Sci Bull 61(23):1818–1825

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Tomić N, Grujić-Brojčin M, Finčur N, Abramović B, Simović B, Krstić J, Matović B, Šćepanović M (2015) Photocatalytic degradation of alprazolam in water suspension of brookite type TiO2 nanopowders prepared using hydrothermal route. Mater Chem Phys 163:518–528

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Tran HTT, Kosslick H, Ibad MF, Fischer C, Bentrup U, Vuong TH, Nguyen LQ, Schulz A (2017) Photocatalytic performance of highly active brookite in the degradation of hazardous organic compounds compared to anatase and rutile. Appl Catal B Environ 200:647–658

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Altomare M, Dozzi MV, Chiarello GL, Di Paola A, Palmisano L, Selli E (2015) High activity of brookite TiO2 nanoparticles in the photocatalytic abatement of ammonia in water. Catal Today 252:184–189

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. López-Muñoz MJ, Revilla A, Alcalde G (2015) Brookite TiO2-based materials: Synthesis and photocatalytic performance in oxidation of methyl orange and As (III) in aqueous suspensions. Catal Today 240:138–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Ohno T, Higo T, Saito H, Yuajn S, Jin Z, Yang Y, Tsubota T (2015) Dependence of photocatalytic activity on aspect ratio of a brookite TiO2 nanorod and drastic improvement in visible light responsibility of a brookite TiO2 nanorod by site-selective modification of Fe3+ on exposed faces. J Mol Catal A Chem 396:261–267

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Szołdra P, Frąc M, Lach R, Zych Ł, Radecka M, Trenczek-Zając A, Pichór W (2023) Effect of brookite on the photocatalytic properties of mixed-phase TiO2 obtained at a higher temperature. Mater Sci Eng B 287:116104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Humayun M, Khan A, Luo W (2018) Modification strategies of TiO2 for potential applications in photocatalysis: a critical review. Green Chem Lett Rev 11(2):86–102

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Guan S, Hao L, Lu Y (2021). Appl Cat Chem Eng 2:30

  19. Méndez-Medrano MG, Kowalska E, Lehoux A, Herissan A, Ohtani B, Bahena D, Briois V, Colbeau-Justin C, Rodríguez-López JL, Remita H (2016) Surface modification of TiO2 with Ag nanoparticles and CuO nanoclusters for application in photocatalysis. J Phys Chem C 120(9):5143–5154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Méndez-Medrano MG, Kowalska E, Lehoux A, Herissan A, Ohtani B, Rau S, Colbeau-Justin C, Rodríguez-López JL, Remita H (2016) Surface modification of TiO2 with Au nanoclusters for efficient water treatment and hydrogen generation under visible light. J Phys Chem C 120(43):25010–25022

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Habiballah A, Mahmud A, Yazid H, Md Jani AM (2015) Synthesis and morphological characterization of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) supported on anodized titanium oxide (TiO2) nanotubes. Mater Sci Forum 819:405–410

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Zhu H, Tan J, Qiu J, Wang D, Zhao Z, Lu Z, Huang G, Liu X, Mei Y (2022) Gold Nanoparticles decorated titanium oxide nanotubes with enhanced antibacterial activity driven by photocatalytic memory effect. Coatings 12(9):1351

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Yu Y, Wen W, Qian X-Y, Liu J-B, Wu J-M (2017) UV and visible light photocatalytic activity of Au/TiO2 nanoforests with Anatase/Rutile phase junctions and controlled Au locations. Sci Rep 7:41253

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Luna M, Mosquera MJ, Vidal H, Gatica JM (2019) Au-TiO2/SiO2 photocatalysts for building materials: Self-cleaning and de-polluting performance. Build Environ 164:106347

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Pereira JM, Ciotti L, Vaz JM, Spinacé EV (2017) Preparation of Au/TiO2 Catalyst by a Liquid-Phase Reduction Method for Preferential Oxidation of Carbon Monoxide in a Hydrogen Rich-Stream (CO-PROX reaction). Mater Res 21

  26. Chen Y, Zhu B, Yao M, Wang S, Zhang S (2010) The preparation and characterization of Au@TiO2 nanoparticles and their catalytic activity for CO oxidation. Catal Commun 11:1003–1007

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Do T, Nguyen D, Kien N, Le P (2019) TiO2 and Au-TiO2 nanomaterials for rapid photocatalytic degradation of antibiotic residues in aquaculture wastewater. Materials (Basel) 12(15):2434. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12152434

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Thuy N, Do H, Manh L, Minh P, Hien N (2022) Improvement of the photocatalytic activity of Au/TiO2 nanocomposites by prior treatment of TiO2 with microplasma in an NH3 and H2O2 solution. J 5(2):277–286

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Thi Thu Thuy N, Hoang Tung D, Hong Manh L, Kim JH, Kudryashov SI, Hong Minh P, The Hien N (2020) Plasma enhanced wet chemical surface activation of TiO2 for the synthesis of high performance photocatalytic Au/TiO2 nanocomposites. Appl Sci 10(10):3345. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10103345

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Thuong HTT, Kim CTT, Quang LN, Kosslick H (2019) Highly active brookite TiO2-assisted photocatalytic degradation of dyes under the simulated solar−UVA radiation. Prog Nat Sci Mater Int 29:641–647

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the National Key Laboratory for Electronic Materials and Devices, Institute of Materials Science, for experiments and measurements.

Funding

This work has been supported by the research fund of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) with the grant number KHCBVL. 04/21-22.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam

    Thi Thuong Huyen Tran, Thi Kim Chi Tran, Thi Quynh Xuan Le & Nhat Linh Nguyen

  2. Thai Nguyen University of Education, 20 Luong Ngoc Quyen, Quang Trung, Thai Nguyen, 10000, Vietnam

    Thi Minh Thuy Nguyen & Thi Thu Hien Pham

  3. Institute of Physics, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Vietnam, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam

    Truong Son Nguyen & Hoang Tung Do

  4. Faculty of Chemistry, VNU-Hanoi University of Science, Vietnam National University, 19 Le Thanh Tong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam

    Huy Hoang Do

Authors
  1. Thi Thuong Huyen Tran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Thi Kim Chi Tran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Thi Quynh Xuan Le
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nhat Linh Nguyen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Thi Minh Thuy Nguyen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Thi Thu Hien Pham
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Truong Son Nguyen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Hoang Tung Do
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Huy Hoang Do
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thi Thuong Huyen Tran.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Tran, T.T.H., Tran, T.K.C., Le, T.Q.X. et al. Engineering the surface structure of brookite-TiO2 nanocrystals with Au nanoparticles by cold-plasma technique and its photocatalytic and self-cleaning property. J Nanopart Res 25, 203 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-023-05854-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-023-05854-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation