New strategy to obtain high surface area anatase nanotube/AuNP photocatalyst.

Anatase nanotubes with high surface area (ca. 350 m g), containing gold nanoparticles, were successfully obtained from trititanate nanotubes, prepared by a template-free hydrothermal method, and calcined at 450 °C. The high surface area and tubular morphology were attained due to the presence of ionic silsesquioxane, which acts as anti-sintering agent for titania during calcination process, by forming a thin silica coating between anatase nanotubes.