Modeling catalytic reduction of NO by ammonia over V2O5

Preservation of the natural environment and therefore elimination of pollutants has become a major concern in the present world. NO_x is efficiently removed from the gas exhausts produced by fixed plants by the selective catalytic reduction processes where NO_x is reduced by ammonia. Despite the wide use of this process, many aspects concerning the reaction mechanism are still poorly understood. The reaction is very exothermic but requires a catalyst. Here we report the present status of the proposed mechanisms for the selective catalytic reduction of NO by ammonia on V₂O₅/titania catalyst. The discussion is centered on the last decade and focuses on new theoretical findings in the field. We provide ab initio calculations based on cluster and periodic models to analyze the adsorption of the reactants in reduced, oxidized and stoichiometric surfaces, assuming dry and wet conditions, to evaluate the intermediates proposed in the literature. Several conditions are settled to propose an active catalyst. Coadsorption is investigated and in dry conditions quasi spontaneous reaction is obtained on an oxidized catalyst when the model includes NO and NH₃ and is allowed easy hydration-dehydration processes. We conclude that adsorption of reactants takes place on reactive O sites provided by the catalyst, V₂O₅ dispersed on TiO₂–anatase phase. Dispersion is essential to generate reactive O atoms necessary for a good catalytic activity. Finally, we propose a new pathway to proceed in oxidizing conditions. Results are compared to recent theoretical calculations and to experimental data.     

Evidence for bicarbonate formation on vacuum annealed TiO2(110) resulting from a precursor-mediated interaction between CO2 and H2O

The reaction of CO₂ and H₂O to form bicarbonate (HCO⁻₃) was examined on the nearly perfect and vacuum annealed surfaces of TiO₂(110) with temperature programmed desorption (TPD), static secondary ion mass spectrometry (SSIMS) and high resolution electron energy loss spectrometry (HREELS). The vacuum annealed TiO₂(110) surface possesses oxygen vacancy sites that are manifested in electronic EELS by a loss feature at 0.75 V. These oxygen vacancy sites bind CO₂ only slightly more strongly (TPD peak at 166 K) than do the five-coordinated Ti⁴⁺ sites (TPD peak at 137 K) typical of the nearly perfect TiO₂(110) surface. Vibrational HREELS indicates that CO₂ is linearly bound at the latter sites with a ν_a(OCO) frequency similar to the gas phase value. In contrast, oxygen vacancies dissociate H₂O to bridging OH groups which recombine to liberate H₂O in TPD at 490 K. No evidence for a reaction between CO₂ and H₂O is detected on the nearly perfect surface. In sequentially dosed experiments on the vacuum annealed surface at 110 K, CO₂ adsorption is blocked by the presence of preadsorbed H₂O, adsorbed CO₂ is displaced by postdosed H₂O, and there is little or no evidence for bicarbonate formation in either case. However, when CO₂ and H₂O are simultaneously dosed, a new CO₂ TPD state is observed at 213 K, and the 166 K state associated with CO₂ at the vacancies is absent. SSIMS was used to tentatively assign the 213 K CO₂ TPD state to a bicarbonate species. The 213 K CO₂ TPD state is not formed if the vacancy sites are filled with OH groups prior to simultaneous CO₂+H₂O exposure. Sticking coefficient measurements suggest that CO₂ adsorption at 110 K is precursor-mediated, as is known to be the case for H₂O adsorption on TiO₂(110). A model explaining the circumstances under which the proposed bicarbonate species is formed involves the surface catalyzed conversion of a precursor-bound H₂O–CO₂ van der Waals complex to carbonic acid, which then reacts at unoccupied oxygen vacancies to generate bicarbonate, but falls apart to CO₂ and H₂O in the absence of these sites. This model is consistent with the conditions under which bicarbonate is formed on powdered TiO₂, and is similar to the mechanism by which water catalyzes carbonic acid formation in aqueous solution.     

Studies of sol–gel TiO2 and Pt/TiO2 catalysts for NO reduction by CO in an oxygen-rich condition

The textural properties, morphological features, surface basicity and oxygen reduction behaviours of titania and Pt supported titania catalysts synthesized via a sol–gel method were studied by means of N₂ physisorption, SEM, TEM, CO₂-TPD and H₂-TPR techniques. Mesostructured TiO₂ shows a very narrow pore size distribution that uniformly centred at about 4 nm. High resolution TEM images confirmed that most of Pt particles on Pt/TiO₂-SG had a size smaller than 2 nm. Both the titania support and Pt loaded catalysts chiefly contained weak basic sites with small amount of strong basic sites. Loading Pt did not significantly alter the surface reduction characters of titania, indicating a weak interaction between Pt metals and titania support. Catalytic evaluation revealed that the selectivity of NO reduction over titania was insensitive to variation of textural property. On the bare titania, low NO conversion but high selectivity to N₂O was obtained. However, the Pt/TiO₂-SG catalysts exhibited high NO conversion and high selectivity to N₂, which is assumed to relate to NO dissociation catalysed by the metallic Pt clusters. In addition, when the reaction temperature was above 200 °C, 3–11% NO₂ was yielded over the Pt/TiO₂-SG catalysts, which was discussed on a basis of reaction competition, metal-support interaction and NO dissociation.     

Ce和O空位共掺杂TiO_2的电子结构与光学性质

采用基于密度泛函理论加U的计算方法,研究了Ce和O空位单(共)掺杂锐钛矿相TiO_2的电子结构和光吸收性质.计算结果表明,Ce和O空位共掺杂TiO_2的带隙中出现了杂质能级,且带隙窄化为2.67 eV,明显比纯TiO_2和Ce,O空位单掺杂TiO_2的要小,因而可提高TiO_2对可见光的响应能力,使TiO_2的光吸收范围增加.光吸收谱显示,掺杂后TiO_2的光吸收边发生了显著红移;在400.0—677.1 nm的可见光区,共掺杂体系的光吸收强度显著高于纯TiO_2和Ce单掺杂TiO_2,而略低于O空位单掺杂TiO_2.此外,Ce掺杂TiO_2中引入O空位后,TiO_2的导带边从-0.27 eV变化为-0.32 eV,这表明TiO_2的导带边的还原能力得到了加强.计算结果为Ce和O空位共掺杂TiO_2在可见光光解水方面的进一步研究提供了有力的理论依据.     

Electrochromic properties of spray deposited TiO2-doped WO3 thin films

TiO₂-doped WO₃ thin films were deposited onto fluorine-doped tin oxide coated conducting glass substrates using spray pyrolysis technique at 525 °C. The volume percentage of TiO₂ dopant was varied from 13% to 38%. The thin film samples were transparent, uniform and strongly adherent to the substrates. Electrochromical properties of TiO₂-doped WO₃ thin films were studied with the help of cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA) and chronocoulometry (CC) techniques. It has been found that TiO₂ doping in WO₃ enhances its electrochromic performance. Colouration efficiency becomes almost double and samples exhibit increasingly high reversibility with TiO₂ doping concentrations, in the studied range.     

BiVO4的晶体结构和光学观察

对于提拉法合成的BiVO₄单晶进行了X射线衍射分析。室温下该晶体属于单斜晶系,空间群为B2/b,z=4,晶胞参数为:a=7.247?,b=5.096?,c=11.702?,γ=134.18°。进行了二维、三维帕特逊分析和三维电子密度计算。全矩阵最小二乘法修正给出335个独立反射的R=0.067,R_w=0.058。经吸收和次级消光校正后,R=0.058。Bi和V原子各占据一套4e特殊点系,O原子占据两套一般点系。V³⁺是四配位,形成规则的VO₄四面体。Bi³⁺是八配位,形成畸变Bi-O十二面体。BiVO₄在T_c温度上下空间群各为I4₁/a和I2/b(或B2/b)。由四方到单斜相变没有正交中间变体。相变显然是由Bi-O多面体孤对畸变所驱动。Bi³⁺和V⁵⁺沿c轴上下交替位移,这就显示单斜BiVO₄具有层状结构的特征。这一特征由光学观察得到证实。该晶体在垂直干c轴的方向极易开裂而产生平坦的解理面。选取具有胞状结构圆盘形晶体、自然解理晶片和粉末晶粒三种试样进行了光学观察,并研究了晶体透过率与波长关系。 关键词：     

H_2气氛退火处理对Nb掺杂TiO_2薄膜光电性能的影响

采用电子束沉积方法,以钛酸锶(SrTiO3)为衬底制备铌(Nb)掺杂TiO2薄膜并研究后续H2气氛退火处理对其薄膜样品光电性能的影响.结果发现H2气氛热退火处理能有效改善Nb掺杂TiO2薄膜的导电率,最佳电阻率达到5.46×10-3Ω·cm,在可见光范围内的透光率为60%—80%.导电性能的改善与H2气氛退火处理后多晶薄膜的晶粒尺寸变大和大量的氧空位形成及H原子掺杂有关.     

基于电子顺磁共振的锌卟啉敏化TiO2光催化性机理的研究

为了研究锌卟啉/TiO₂复合光催化剂的光催化效率及电子转移问题, 本文采用溶胶凝胶法制备了锌卟啉/TiO₂的混合光催化材料, 并利用紫外可见光谱、电子顺磁共振谱对锌卟啉/TiO₂复合光催化剂进行了表征与分析. 采用溶胶凝胶法制备了锌卟啉-TiO₂的混合光催化材料, 通过比较纯P25型TiO₂和掺入质量比分别为0.2%, 0.5%, 0.9%锌卟啉敏化剂的锌卟啉/TiO₂混合光催化材料的紫外可见光谱图可知, 加入适量锌卟啉敏化剂可提高TiO₂对甲基橙溶液的降解效率, 过多的掺入锌卟啉敏化剂会导致TiO₂表面被敏化剂覆盖, 从而影响了其对光子的吸收, 降低TiO₂的光催化效率, 降低TiO₂的光降解率, 甚至低于纯TiO₂的光降解率. 应用电子顺磁共振技术对锌卟啉敏化TiO₂光催化剂的光催化机理进行了合理的解释, 当使用紫外可见光源对粉末样品进行辐照时, 锌卟啉受光辐照产生的激发态电子促进具有强氧化性的Ti³⁺和超氧根自由基的生成, 从而有效的促进了光生空穴-电子对的分离, 提高了TiO₂的光催化性能.     

Cu掺杂纳米TiO2光催化还原CO2实验研究

利用溶胶凝胶法制备不同掺杂量的CuO-TiO₂纳米粉体,采用热重差热分析仪（TG-DTA）,X射线衍射仪（XRD）,场发射扫描电镜（FSEM-EDX）等手段对其进行表征;在波长为253.7nm的紫外灯照射下,进行CO₂光催化还原实验研究,探究CO₂光催化资源化利用可行性,。结果表明,溶胶凝胶法制备所得CuO掺杂TiO₂纳米粉体,粒径大小在20～30 nm之间;CO₂光催化还原主要产物为甲醇,掺杂量为5%（质量分数）CnO-TiO₂纳米粉体催化效果最好,反应10 h后得到甲醇产量为27mg·（g-cata）^-1;随着反应时间的增加,产物中甲醇含量也逐渐增加。     

Preparation of S-TiO2 photocatalyst and photodegradation of L-acid under visible light

S-doped TiO₂ (S-TiO₂) photocatalyst was synthesized by sol–gel method with tetrabutyl titanate and thiourea as precursor. S-TiO₂ was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the photocatalytic activity was evaluated by 1-naphthol-5-sulfonic acid (L-acid) under UV, visible light and solar light radiation. The results showed that doped S could improve photoabsorption property of TiO₂ in the visible region, leading the increase in the photocatalytical activity of TiO₂.

The average particle size of the S-TiO₂ photocatalyst is about 10 nm. The S-TiO₂-4 photocatalyst contains 100% anatase crystalline phase of TiO₂. In the S-TiO₂-4 photocatalyst, S does not exist independently, but is incorporated into the crystal lattice of TiO₂. In the inner crystal lattice of the S-TiO₂-4 photocatalyst, S as S²⁻ replaces O in TiO₂, while on the surface of crystal lattice, S exists as S⁴⁺ and S⁶⁺.

The photocatalytical activity of S-TiO₂-4 photocatalyst for the photodegradation of L-acid is better than that of pure TiO₂. Under the same conditions, the photodegradation efficiency of L-acid for the S-TiO₂-4 photocatalyst and the solar light irradiation is 85.1%, while it is only 26.4% for pure TiO₂. In addition, the final products of the photocatalysis of L-acid using the S-TiO₂-4 photocatalyst are not organic compounds with low molecular weight, but the inorganic compounds.     

以二氧化钛前驱体为基的电流变液的成分分析和机理研究

制备了二氧化钛前驱体粉体, 它具有优良的巨电流变效应, 但不含一水草酸钙的成分. 通过X射线衍射谱、扫描电子显微镜、电感耦合等离子体光谱仪和热失重-质谱联用仪等一系列实验手段, 对二氧化钛前驱体粉体进行了表征, 发现它是非晶形态的纳米粉体, 其主要成分为TiOC₂O₄·2H₂O和TiO(OH)₂. 由二氧化钛前驱体配置的电流变液具有与钛酸钙前驱体电流变液类似的温度特征, 即 当处理温度超过160℃后, 电流变液的屈服强度会逐渐降低, 至200℃后, 巨电流变效应完全消失. 通过对比分析发现, 伴随上述巨电流变效应消失过程的化学反应是TiOC₂O₄·2H₂O 在加热过程中失去了结晶水. 这些特征在所有钛酸盐系列的电流变液中均可观察到, 因此我们推断TiOC₂O₄·2H₂O是钛酸盐系列巨电流变液中的关键物质. 关键词： 电流变液 钛酸盐 极性分子     

(Cu,N)共掺杂TiO2/MoS2异质结的电子和光学性能:杂化泛函HSE06

在密度泛函理论的基础上,系统地研究了Cu/N（共）掺杂的TiO₂/MoS₂异质结体系的几何结构、电子结构和光学性质.计算发现,TiO₂/MoS₂异质结的带隙相比于纯的TiO₂（101）表面明显变小,Cu/N（共）掺杂TiO₂/MoS₂异质结体系的禁带宽度也明显地减小,这导致光子激发能量的降低和光吸收能力的提高.通过计算Cu/N（共）掺杂TiO₂/MoS₂的差分电荷密度,发现光生电子与空穴积累在掺杂后的TiO₂（101）表面和单层MoS₂之间,这表明掺杂杂质体系可以有效地抑制光生电子-空穴对的复合.此外,我们计算了在不同压力下TiO₂/MoS₂异质结的几何、电子和光学性质,发现适当增加压力可以有效提高异质结的光吸收性能.本文结果表明,Cu/N（共）掺杂TiO₂/MoS₂异质结和对TiO₂/MoS₂异质结加压都能有效地提高材料的光学性能.     

FTIR与XRD的均匀粒度分布Ce-Cu/TiO2空心微球制备机理研究

随着社会经济的发展,环境空气品质已经成为研究热点。TiO₂是一种化学稳定性高,耐腐蚀性强,对人体无毒无害的N型半导体材料。利用TiO₂的光催化性能提高室内环境空气品质已经成为研究焦点,但是由于TiO₂只能在紫外光源下才具有较高的光催化效率,而在可见光源下的光催化效率较低,从而极大的限制了TiO₂在室内环境领域的发展。因此,研发在可见光源下具有良好光催化性能的TiO₂复合材料势在必行。利用元素掺杂改性技术与提高比表面积方法可以改善光催化反应过程中量子效率和对光能的利用率,以加快电子和空穴向表面迁移的速率同时降低光生载流子的复合机率。以二氧化硅SiO₂为模板、聚乙烯吡咯烷酮为成膜剂、硝酸铈Ce(NO₃)₃·6H₂O和硝酸铜Cu(NO₃)₂·3H₂O为改性剂采用溶胶-凝胶法制备均匀粒度分布的Ce-Cu/TiO₂空心微球,并将制备过程分为四个阶段,即纳米SiO₂球模板的制备、Ce-Cu/TiO₂-SiO₂复合微球凝胶的制备、Ce-Cu/TiO₂-SiO₂复合微球的制备和Ce-Cu/TiO₂空心微球的制备。利用傅里叶变换红外光谱仪（FTIR）与X射线衍射仪（XRD）对Ce-Cu/TiO₂空心微球的制备过程各阶段生成物进行测试与分析,即在纳米SiO₂球模板的制备阶段从微观角度研究纳米SiO₂球模板的搭建过程,在Ce-Cu/TiO₂-SiO₂复合微球凝胶的制备阶段研究TiO₂附着于纳米SiO₂球模板的过程,在Ce-Cu/TiO₂-SiO₂复合微球的制备阶段研究煅烧工艺对Ce-Cu/TiO₂-SiO₂复合微球中晶相与结构的影响,在Ce-Cu/TiO₂空心微球的制备阶段研究氢氧化钠溶液对Ce-Cu/TiO₂-SiO₂复合微球中纳米SiO₂球模板洗涤效果的影响。利用紫外-可见分光光度计（UV-Vis）对Ce-Cu/TiO₂空心微球的光响应性能进行测试与分析,以研究Ce-Cu/TiO₂空心微球对可见光源的利用效率。利用激光粒度分析仪（LPSA）与扫描电子显微镜（SEM）对Ce-Cu/TiO₂空心微球的粒度分布与微观形貌进行测试与分析,以研究Ce-Cu/TiO₂空心微球的均匀粒度分布效果。结果表明：以Si-O-Si基团构建非晶体结构的无定形态纳米SiO₂球模板,有利于聚乙烯吡咯烷酮在纳米SiO₂球模板表面附着,从而控制Ce-Cu/TiO₂空心微球的空腔结构。Ce-Cu掺杂基本进入TiO₂晶体,极少进入纳米SiO₂球模板晶体,从而抑制了Ce-Cu/TiO₂-SiO₂复合微球中TiO₂由锐钛矿相向金红石相的转变。Ce-Cu掺杂TiO₂可以促使TiO₂内部形成新的能级,实现能量较小的光子捕获e-和h+,从而提高Ce-Cu/TiO₂空心微球对可见光源的利用效率。Ce-Cu/TiO₂空心微球的表面光滑且不存在明显的缺陷,其形貌呈现良好的球体且粒径分布均匀,即d₉₀为219.54 nm,d₅₀为151.60 nm、d₁₀为103.84 nm,以及d₉₀-d₁₀为115.70 nm。研究结果为进一步获得可见光源下具有良好光催化性能的均匀粒度分布Ce-Cu/TiO₂空心微球提供理论依据和研究基础。     

实验条件对二氧化钛纳米棒形貌和光电流密度的影响

采用简单的水热合成法,以四异丙醇钛为钛源,制备出整齐有序的二氧化钛纳米棒阵列。探索了钛源浓度、反应液酸度、反应时间、温度等实验条件对纳米棒的形貌和光电流密度的影响。实验结果表明:钛源浓度和反应液酸度对纳米棒的生长有非常大的影响,最佳反应液的组分为10 mL去离子水、10 mL盐酸和0.4 mL钛源。另外,随着反应时间的增加,纳米棒的长度会明显的增加,但纳米棒的直径和光电流密度却变化不大。同时,纳米棒的长度也随着反应温度的增高而增加,其光电流密度随之呈现先增大后减小的趋势,但其直径没有明显改变。     

基于Au/TiO_2/FTO结构忆阻器的开关特性与机理研究

采用简单的一步水热法在FTO导电玻璃上外延生长了锐钛矿TiO_2纳米线,制备了具有Au/TiO_2/FTO器件结构的锐钛矿TiO_2纳米线忆阻器,系统研究了器件的阻变开关特性和开关机理.结果表明,Au/TiO_2/FTO忆阻器具有非易失的双极性阻变开关特性.同时,在103s的时间内,器件在0.1 V的电阻开关比始终保持在20以上,表明器件具有良好的非易失性.此外,器件在低阻态时遵循欧姆导电特性,而在高阻态时则满足陷阱控制的空间电荷限制电流传导机制,同时提出了基于氧空位导电细丝形成与断开机制的阻变开关模型.研究结果表明Au/TiO_2/FTO忆阻器将是一种很有发展潜力的下一代非易失性存储器.     

球磨处理的TiO2光谱特征及其光催化性能研究

为改变TiO₂的颗粒尺寸和提高其光催化性能,采用高能球磨法处理TiO₂粉末,研究球磨时间对样品微观形貌、晶体结构、拉曼光谱、荧光光谱和光催化性能的影响;分析荧光光谱和光催化性能之间的关系,确定光催化机理为快速判断其光催化性能提供依据。结果表明：随着球磨时间的增加样品颗粒由规则形状变成无规则形状且表面变得粗糙。所有样品均主要为锐钛矿结构,有少量的金红石结构,随着球磨时间的增加金红石结构的（110）衍射峰逐渐增强说明在球磨过程中少量的TiO₂发生了相转变,晶粒尺寸先减小后增加。所有样品均出现锐钛矿型TiO₂拉曼散射峰,而未发现金红石晶型的拉曼散射峰。各个拉曼峰的半高宽随着球磨时间的增加都有所增加,这表明样品的表面质量下降,表面缺陷和氧空位逐渐增加导致。所有样品在470 nm附近均出现荧光峰,且球磨后的样品该荧光峰得到增强,经过球磨后的TiO₂样品在397,452,483,500和536 nm等处出现荧光峰,且球磨4 h后的TiO₂荧光峰强度最强,表明其表面缺陷和氧空位含量最多,与拉曼光谱分析结果是一致的。随着辐照时间的增加到100 min所有样品的降解率均有所提升且100 min后所有样品对甲基橙的降解率超过60%。经过球磨后的TiO₂样品的降解率都比未球磨的样品高,且球磨4 h的样品的降解率最高,表明其光催化性能最好。在光催化反应过程中,氧空位和缺陷成为俘获光生电子的中心,以致于光生电子与空穴的复合被有效地禁止。氧空位促使样品对氧气的吸收,氧气与氧空位俘获的光生电子发生相互作用而形成氧自由基,对有机物的氧化起到关键作用,因此表面缺陷和氧空位越多,即激子光致发光峰越强,其光催化性能越好。采用球磨法可提高TiO₂粉末的光催化性能,并通过激子光致发光峰的强弱可快速定性地判断光催化性能的表现。     

Single crystal RuO2/Ti and RuO2/TiO2 interface: LEED, Auger and XPS study

The interactions at the evolving RuO₂/titanium interface have been studied by LEED, AES and XPS. Titanium films of up to 5 monolayers were evaporated onto well ordered and ion sputtered ruthenium dioxide crystal surfaces of (110) and (100) orientation. Stabilization of the surface oxygen content under thermal treatment in UHV (up to 600°C) with increasing titanium coverage was established. After extended (up to 4 h) annealing in O₂ at 600°C an epitaxial ordering of TiO₂ on RuO₂(110) was observed. The (1 × 1) LEED patterns from the epitaxial layer exhibit a reduced background level when compared to the RuO₂ substrate itself. These findings are correlated with the XPS data and are interpreted in connection with the disappearance of the defect RuO₂ phase in the surface layer of the RuO₂. The appearance of the (1 × 2) surface reconstruction at the RuO₂(100)/Ti interface is discussed in the context of maximum cation coordination by oxygen atoms.     

Theoretical study of K3Sb/graphene heterostructure for electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction

Instead of the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process, electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) is an exciting new carbon neutral technique for ammonia synthesis under ambient conditions. In this work, we investigated K-based electrocatalysts theoretically and demonstrated that K₃Sb/graphene performs excellent activity and inhibits hydrogen evolution on alternating reaction pathway. The first hydrogenation step from N₂* to NNH* was found to be the most energetic and limiting step (0.61 eV). Graphene substrate plays the critical role to promote electronic conductivity between K₃Sb and dinitrogen.     

基于一维TiO_2纳米管阵列薄膜的β伏特效应研究

介绍了一种采用宽禁带半导体二氧化钛纳米管阵列薄膜材料制备β伏特效应同位素电池的方法.通过对金属钛片的电化学阳极氧化制备了垂直定向、有序排列的二氧化钛纳米管阵列薄膜,研究了退火条件对二氧化钛纳米管阵列薄膜半导体光电性能的影响.通过与镍-63辐射源的集成封装,形成三明治结构镍-63/二氧化钛纳米管阵列薄膜/钛片的β伏特同位素电池.实验结果表明,基于氩气氛围下450?C退火的黑色二氧化钛纳米管阵列薄膜具有高的氧空位缺陷浓度和宽的可见-紫外吸收光谱.在使用β辐射总能量为10 m Ci的镍-63辐射源时,同位素电池的开路电压为1.02 V,短路电流75.52 n A,最大有效转换效率为22.48%.     

Dissociation of liquid water on defective rutile TiO2 (110) surfaces using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations

In order to obtain a comprehensive understanding of both thermodynamics and kinetics of water dissociation on TiO₂, the reactions between liquid water and perfect and defective rutile TiO₂ (110) surfaces were investigated using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. The results showed that the free-energy barrier (~4.4 kcal/mol) is too high for a spontaneous dissociation of water on the perfect rutile (110) surface at a low temperature. The most stable oxygen vacancy (V_o1) on the rutile (110) surface cannot promote the dissociation of water, while other unstable oxygen vacancies can significantly enhance the water dissociation rate. This is opposite to the general understanding that V_o1 defects are active sites for water dissociation. Furthermore, we reveal that water dissociation is an exothermic reaction, which demonstrates that the dissociated state of the adsorbed water is thermodynamically favorable for both perfect and defective rutile (110) surfaces. The dissociation adsorption of water can also increase the hydrophilicity of TiO₂.