Abstract: Gold nanoparticles can absorb ultraviolet or visible light to activate reagent molecules under mild condition，and this promote the reactions and improve the conversion of reactants and selectivity of products. So it became hot topics of the recent resrarch. In this paper，the photocatalytic reaction mechanism of gold catalyst，namely，the charge dipole caused by the surface plasma resonance exited by photons inducing the electron-philic or nucleophilic reaction，was reviewed，and the mechanism of gold nanoparticles supported on the semiconductor material TiO2. And the progress and applications of gold photocatalysts in degradation of dyes and pollutants，decomposition of ozone，reduction of nitrocompound，selective oxidation and hydrogen production were introduced. And the future research progress of this new photocatalysts is prospected.

Key words: gold catalyst, photocatalysis, surface plasma resonance

摘要： 金纳米颗粒对紫外和可见光有较好的吸收，能在温和条件下活化反应分子，从而促使反应发生，并提高反应物转化率和产物选择性，成为新型光催化剂的研究热点。本文介绍了纳米金催化剂的光催化反应机理，光子激发的表面等离子体共振所造成的表面电荷偶极引起亲电子或亲核反应，以及以半导体材料为载体的负载型纳米金催化剂光催化机理。总结了纳米金光催化剂在污染物和染料降解、臭氧分解、硝基化合物还原、选择氧化以及制氢等光催化领域的应用和最新研究进展，并展望了该新型光催化剂的研究发展方向。