Au nanoparticle-decorated TiO2 hollow fibers with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity toward dye degradation

TiO2 hollow fibers (THF) were prepared by a template method using kapok as a biotemplate and subsequently decorated by plasmonic Au nanoparticles using a solution plasma process. The THF exhibited an anatase phase and a hollow structure with a mesoporous wall. Au nanoparticles with a diameter of about 5-10 nm were uniformly distributed on the THF surface. Au nanoparticles-decorated TiO2 hollow fibers (Au/THF) have enhanced photocatalytic activity toward methylene blue degradation under visible light-emitting diode (Vis-LED) as compared to pristine THF and P25. This could be attributed to combined effects including effective light-harvesting by a hollow structure, large surface area due to a mesoporous wall of THF, and visible-light absorption and efficient charge separation induced by Au nanoparticles. The Au/THF also showed good recyclability and separation ability.