Preparation and Visible-light Photocatalytic Activity of Au-supported Porous CeO2 Spherical Particles Using Templating

Porous spherical CeO 2 particles were prepared by impregnation of a cerium precursor solution into organic monolith sphere particles, with subsequent firing at 500 °C in air. The single-phase CeO 2 powder had specific surface area of greater than 140 m 2 /g. Photodeposition with UV illumination loaded Au onto the CeO 2 particle surface, which changed from yellowish to purple because of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). The Au-loading increased photocatalytic decomposition activity of the CeO 2 powder for gaseous 2-propanol (IPA) under visible light. Thermal desorption of IPA, which was adsorbed to all porous spheres, provided flux to the photocatalytic reaction field of the sphere outer surface.