Achieving nano-gold stability through rational design† †Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c6sc01597b Click here for additional data file.

For comparative means, a current Au-TiO 2 catalyst was used or order to benchmark current standards for nano-Au catalysts. The Aurolite® catalyst is currently the only commercially produced Au-TiO 2 catalyst comprising of 1% Au (by mass) loaded on P25 type TiO 2 comprising approximately 20% rutile and 80% anatase. A second batch of catalysts was examined where the catalyst composition was similar to that of Aurolite® except with a higher Au loading of 5% in order to test the effect of higher Au loadings on catalytic activity. Catalysts were thermally cycled to 700 o C and then 800 o C, however, the catalytic testing was shortened as the catalysts deactivated after only one thermal cycle to 700 o C. The results of the catalytic tests are shown below in Figure S1.