Effect of Ti(IV) loading on CO oxidation activity of gold on TiO2 doped amorphous silica

Abstract Amorphous SiO 2 , doped with various amount of TiO 2 , was used as support for gold nanoparticles. Gold was deposited through the controlled sol formation technique. The effect of the TiO 2 loading on the structural and surface properties was investigated by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The catalytic behavior was tested in the oxidation of CO. A significant enhancement in the activity was observed for the gold supported on mixed oxide with low TiO 2 loading. On the basis of characterization data, the positive effect is assigned to the electronic modification of the Ti(IV) of the newly formed Ti O Si bonds.