Controlled Synthesis and Photocatalytic Performance of [email protected] Nanospheres with Core–Shell and Yolk-Shell Structures Assisted by Carbonaceous Layers as Intermediate

[email protected] nanospheres with controlled core–shell and yolk-shell features were successfully fabricated through a facile template-based solvothermal method using carbonaceous layers as intermediate. The active carbonaceous layers containing numerous surface functional groups such as OH and C═O play key roles in fabrication of the [email protected] nanospheres. The structures of [email protected] can easily controlled by adjusting the concentration of Zn ions aqueous solution and/or the size of [email protected] microspheres. The synthesis strategy proposed in this paper is also verified to be suitable for fabricating some other [email protected] oxides nanospheres such as [email protected]₂ and [email protected]₂O₃ with controlled structures. Furthermore, due to the synergic effect of the surface plasma resonance effect of Au cores and the large surface area of 122.67 m² g⁻¹, the [email protected] nanospheres with yolk-shell feature exhibite good photocatalytic activity and stability under visible-light irradiation.