A novel photocatalysis and gas sensing material was synthesized by decorating Au nanoparticles on tungsten trioxide nanorods. Tungsten trioxide nanorods were prepared through the ion-exchange method combined with hydrothermal treatment and further modified with Au nanoparticles (Au NPs). After Au NPs decorated on the surface of WO3 nanorods (WO3 NRs), the reducing gas (hydrogen, methanol, ethanol, etc.) sensing properties and the photocatalytic performance of rhodamine B (RhB) were all greatly improved. Au NP modified WO3 nanorods (Au NP@WO3 NRs) exhibit not only larger response (H2 50 ppm, recovery time lower than 10 s) and better selectivity (Ra/Rg = 6.6) for H2 gas detection than pure WO3 NRs but also high photocatalytic properties for the absolute degradation of RhB under simulated sunlight irradiation for 120 min.

In this short review paper we briefly introduce recent results from our research work on the manipulation of single biological molecules deposited on the surface of mica by using scanning force microscopes: results of a cooperation between the Shanghai joint group and the University of Saarland on the manipulation of single DNA molecules and some possible applications based on single molecule manipulation and structural characterization. These results emanate from the Shanghai research teams in studying DNA molecular combing, cutting, pushing and pick-up. Future prospects are briefly outlined.