• Journal of Inorganic Materials
  • Vol. 37, Issue 4, 404 (2022)

Abstract

In order to exploit energy sources (like photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production) and protect environment (like organics degradation), supported noble metal catalysts have made considerable progress in terms of design, fabrication, and theory. Herein, based on the specific morphology and structure of dendritic mesoporous silica nanospheres (DMSNs), TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were introduced into the channels via Sol-Gel method, developing dendritic mesoporous silica&titania nanospheres (DMSTNs). Then, amino groups (-NH2) were grafted onto DMSTNs surfaces by organic modification technology. Finally, ultrasmall gold (Au) NPs were anchored onto the as-prepared DMSTNs-NH2 through impregnation method and sodium borohydride (NaBH4) reduction. DMSTNs supported Au NPs catalysts could be successfully constructed, as verified by different methods. Under simulated sunlight for splitting water, the amount of produced H2 by the brand-new catalysts and the corresponding rate are 69.08 µmol·g-1 and 13.82 µmol·g-1·h-1, respectively, roughly. seven times of that of the contrast sample (DMSNs supported Au NPs). Without light irradiation, the apparent kinetic constant of p-nitrophenol reduction by the as-prepared catalysts is 6.540×10-3 s-1, about 17 times higher than that of the reference (0.372×10-3 s-1). ln conclusion, DMSTNs supported Au NPs exhibit good multifunctional catalytic activity.