Remarkably enhanced photocatalytic activity of laser ablated Au nanoparticle decorated BiFeO3 nanowires under visible-light

Hybrid photocatalysts consisting of single crystalline BiFeO3 nanowires and laser ablated Au nanoparticles were synthesized by a functionalization-step-free solution process. The 1.0 wt% Au nanoparticle decorated BiFeO3 nanowires exhibit similar to 30 times higher photocatalytic activity for water oxidation than that exhibited by the parent wires during the first 4 h.