Formation of molecular monolayers on TiO2 surfaces: a surface analogue of the Williamson ether synthesis

Strategies to modify metal oxide surfaces are important because of the increasing applications of metal oxides in catalysis, sensing, electronics, and renewable energy. Here, we report the formation of molecular monolayers on anatase nanocrystalline TiO(2) surfaces at near-ambient temperatures by a simple one-step immersion. This is achieved by an analogue of the Williamson ether synthesis, in which the hydroxyl groups of the TiO(2) surface react with iodo-alkane molecules to release HI and form a Ti-O-C surface linkage. The grafted molecules were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to confirm the formation of covalently bonded monolayers. Kinetic studies yielded an activation barrier of ～59 kJ/mol for the grafting reaction. Measurements of hydrolytic stability of the grafted molecules in water show that approximately half the molecules are removed within minutes to hours at temperatures of 25-100 °C with an activation energy of ～82 kJ/mol, while the remaining molecules are stable for much longer periods of time. These different stabilities are discussed in terms of the different types of Ti-O-C bonds that can form on TiO(2) surfaces.