Low-temperature synthesis of titanium oxide/gold nanoparticle composite powders using a combination of the sol–gel process and ultraviolet light irradiation

Amorphous titanium oxide/plasmonic gold nanoparticle composite powders were synthesized by a combination of the sol–gel process and ultraviolet light irradiation using light-emitting diode at room temperature. The resultant composite powders were dried at ~50 °C. These amorphous titanium oxide/gold nanoparticle composite powders were heated to 450 °C to obtain crystalline titanium oxide/gold nanoparticles. The formation and microstructure of the titanium oxide/gold nanoparticle composite powders were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermo gravimetry–differential thermal analysis, and optical absorption measurements. A clear plasmonic absorption band due to typical plasmonic gold nanoparticle was observed in both composite powders.