A Mesoporous Pt/TiO 2 Nanoarchitecture with Catalytic and Photocatalytic Functions

A novel metal/semiconductor nanocomposite with catalytic and photocatalytic functions has been prepared. The new material consists of highly dispersed platinum (Pt) nanoparticles embedded in a cubic mesoporous nanocrystalline anatase (meso‐nc‐TiO 2 ) thin film. The porous thin film possesses a narrow pore‐size distribution and a large surface area. The diameter of the Pt cluster can be controlled to below 5 nm, and the high dispersion of these clusters gives rise to catalytic activity for the oxidation of carbon monoxide, an important reaction for automobile exhaust treatment. This novel ordered mesoporous Pt/TiO 2 nanoarchitecture is also a promising photochemical material, as demonstrated by the photo‐driven killing of Micrococcus lylae cells on the film.