Removal of hexavalent chromium from water by Z-scheme photocatalysis using TiO (rutile) nanorods loaded with Au core-CuO shell particles.

All-solid-state Z-scheme photocatalysts, containing CuO, TiO (rutile), and Au as the electron mediator, were prepared and applied to the reduction of Cr(VI) in aqueous solutions. The CuO-Au-TiO composites were prepared by loading Au core-CuO shell hemisphere particles on TiO (rutile) nanorods using a two-step photocatalytic deposition process. Under ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) light illumination, the CuO-Au-TiO composites exhibited higher photocatalytic Cr(VI) reduction activities than those exhibited by single TiO (rutile) and CuO.