Photocatalytic Activity of Au/TiO2 Photocatalysts for H2 Evolution: Role of the Au Nanoparticles as a Function of the Irradiation Wavelength.

An investigation of hydrogen production with a series of Au/TiO2 photocatalysts reveals that the Au nanoparticles play different roles depending on the wavelength of the light irradiation. Under visible-light irradiation, the photoactivity is primarily controlled by the intensity of the Au surface plasmon band, whereas under UV irradiation the Au nanoparticles act as co-catalysts with TiO2 .