Selective preparation of zero- and one-dimensional gold nanostructures in a TiO(2 )nanocrystal-containing photoactive mesoporous template

Nanocrystallized SiO(2)-TiO(2 )with tubular mesopores was prepared via the sol-gel technique. Gold was deposited in the tubular mesopores of the nanocrystallized SiO(2)-TiO(2). The shape of the gold was varied from one-dimensional [1-D] to zero-dimensional [0-D] nanostructures by an increase in TiO(2 )content and ultraviolet [UV] irradiation during gold deposition. 1-D gold nanostructures [GNSs] were mainly obtained in the mesopores when a small amount of TiO(2)-containing mesoporous SiO(2)-TiO(2 )was used as a template, whereas the use of a template containing a large amount of TiO(2 )led to the formation of shorter 1-D or 0-D GNSs. UV irradiation also resulted in the formation of 0-D GNSs. PACS: 06.60.Jn (sample preparation); 81.07.Gf (nanowires); 81.16.Be (chemical synthesis methods).