Photochemical Synthesis and Catalytic Properties of Materials Containing Cerium(IV) Oxide and Gold Nanoparticles

Abstract— Gold nanoparticles on the surface of cerium(IV) oxide were obtained by photochemical reduction of HAuCl₄ in water–alcohol solutions. The spectral characteristics of the resultant nanocomposites, their phase composition and morphology, and the kinetics of the gold particles formation were examined depending on the nature of the monohydric alcohol and on the morphology of the cerium(IV) oxide particles. The catalytic activity of cerium(IV) oxide before and after modification with gold nanoparticles in the reactions of photodegradation of methyl orange and phenol was studied. It was shown that the CeO₂ particles modified with gold nanoparticles upon irradiation with UV light have the highest photocatalytic activity.