Transmission electron microscopy observation of the structure of TiO2 nanotube and Au/TiO2 nanotube catalyst

A TiO2 nanotube catalyst was synthesized and observed by analytical transmission electron microscopy (TEM) combined with scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS). It was revealed that the crystalline structure of the TiO2 nanotube is different from that of anatase and rutile TiO2. It was found that gold nanoparticles could be supported successfully on the TiO2 nanotube when applied using the deposition precipitation method. The catalytic activity of an Au/TiO2 nanotube for CO oxidation and H2 oxidation was examined and found to be different from Au on anatase or and rutile TiO2 catalyst. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.