Controlled synthesis of gold nanorods and integrated with titanium dioxide for enhancing visible light-driven antioxidant activity

In this work, gold nanorods (AuNRs) with well-controlled aspect ratios were prepared using a modified seedgrowth method and covered by TiO2 layers through the hydrothermal reaction to improve stability. Integrating TiO2 with plasmonic rod-like gold nanoparticles could enhance their photo activity by the local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect. AuNRs aspect ratios were controlled by varying the amount of seed solution, reducing agents, surfactant (CTAB), and titanium (IV) but oxide. The optical properties of formed AuNRs can be tuned in the spectral range from 400 to 900 nm by adjusting the ratio between seed solution and reducing agent concentration.