Composite SiO2/TiO2 and amine polymer/TiO2 nanoparticles produced using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition

Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition was used to conformally coat commercial TiO₂ nanoparticles to create nanocomposite materials. Hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO)/O₂ plasmas were used to deposit SiO₂ or SiO_xC_yH_z films, depending on the oxidant concentration; and hexylamine (HexAm) plasmas were used to deposit amorphous amine-containing polymeric films on the TiO₂ nanoparticles. The composite materials were analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These analyses reveal film composition on the nanoparticles was virtually identical to that deposited on flat substrates and that the films deposit a conformal coating on the nanoparticles. The performance of the nanocomposite materials was evaluated using UV-vis spectroscopy to determine the dispersion characteristics of both SiO_x and HexAm coated TiO₂ materials. Notably, the coated materials stay suspended longer in distilled water than the uncoated materials for all deposited films.     

Effect of surface roughness of TiO2 films on short-circuit current density of photoelectrochemical cell of ITO/TiO2/PVC-LiClO4/graphite

This paper reports the effect of surface topography of titanium dioxide films on short-circuit current density of photoelectrochemical solar cell of ITO/TiO₂/PVC-LiCLO₄/graphite. The films were deposited onto ITO-covered glass substrate by screen-printing technique. The films were tempered at 300 °C, 350 °C, 400 °C, 450 °C and 500 °C for 30 min to burn out the organic parts and to achieve the films with porous structure. The surface roughness of the films were studied using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Current–voltage relationship of the devices were characterized in dark at room temperature and under illumination of 100 mW cm⁻² light from tungsten halogen lamp at 50 °C. The device utilising the TiO₂ film annealed at 400 °C produces the highest short-circuit current density and open-circuit voltage as it posses the smoothest surface topography with the electrolyte. The short-circuit current density and open-circuit voltage of the devices increase with the decreasing grain size of the TiO₂ films. The short-circuit current density and open-circuit voltage are 0.6 μA/cm² and 109 mV respectively.     

Visible-light-activated Ce-Si co-doped TiO2 photocatalyst

To enhance the visible photocatalytic activity and thermal stability of TiO₂, Ce-Si co-doped TiO₂ materials were synthesized through a nonaqueous method of which the purpose was to reduce the aggregation between TiO₂ particles. The obtained materials maintained anatase phase and large surface area of 103.3 m² g⁻¹ even after calcined at 800 °C. The XPS results also indicated that Si was weaved into the lattice of TiO₂, and Ce mainly existed as oxides on the surface of TiO₂ particles. The doped Si might enhance surface area and suppress transformation from anatase to rutile, while the doped Ce might cause visible absorption and inhibit crystallite growth during heat treatment. Evaluated by decomposing dye Rhodamine B, visible photocatalytic activity of Ce-Si co-doped TiO₂ was obviously higher than that of pure TiO₂ and reached the maximum at Ce and Si contents of 0.5 mol% and 10 mol%.     

Small size TiO2 nanoparticles prepared by laser ablation in water

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles in distilled H₂O solvent were prepared by laser ablation. The experiments were performed irradiating a Ti target with a second harmonic (532 nm) output of a Nd:YAG laser varying the operative fluence between 1 and 10 J cm⁻² and for an ablation time ranging from 10 to 30 min. Electron microscopy measurements have evidenced the predominant presence of nanoparticles with diameter smaller than 10 nm together with agglomerations of 100-200 nm whose content increases with the laser fluence. At low laser fluence the particles’ size distribution shows that more than 85% of the nanoparticles have a size smaller than 5 nm while at mid and high fluences the presence of 5-7 nm nanoparticles is predominant. XPS analysis has revealed the presence of different titanium suboxide phases with the prevalence of Ti-O bonds from TiO₂ species. The optical bandgap values, determined by UV-vis absorption measurements, are compatible with the anatase phase.     

Tracking hydroxyl adsorption on TiO2 (1 1 0) through secondary emission changes

In surface science, rutile TiO₂ continues to be one of the most studied surfaces and in the catalysis field numerous groups study how adsorbates interact with this surface. All groups face the difficult problem of reproducibility due to surface preparation unknowns like defect concentration and the continuous aging of the crystals. Recent studies, using STM imaging, showed that hydroxyl adsorption takes place even in very good vacuum conditions. Upon adsorption, the surface electric field is reduced and the work function decreases. We found that this change may be readily detected in the onset energy of the secondary electrons. By following the onset region of secondary electron emission it is possible to track hydroxyl adsorption in quantities well below the detection level of XPS and LEIS. With this knowledge, we show that the time elapsed after surface preparation and water partial pressure should be accounted in the study of TiO₂ surfaces.     

Characterization of TiO2/Au/TiO2 films deposited by magnetron sputtering on polycarbonate substrates

Transparent and conducting TiO₂/Au/TiO₂ (TAuT) films were deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering on polycarbonate substrates to investigate the effect of the Au interlayer on the optical, electrical, and structural properties of the films. In TAuT films, the Au interlayer thickness was kept at 5 nm. Although total thickness was maintained at 100 nm, the stack structure was varied as 50/5/45, 70/5/25, and 90/5/5 nm.In XRD pattern, the intermediate Au films were crystallized, while all TAuT films did not show any diffraction peaks for TiO₂ films with regardless of stack structure. The optical and electrical properties were dependent on the stack structure of the films. The lowest sheet resistance of 23 Ω/□ and highest optical transmittance of 76% at 550 nm were obtained from TiO₂ 90 nm/Au 5 nm/TiO₂ 5 nm films. The work function was dependent on the film stack. The highest work function (4.8 eV) was observed with the TiO₂ 90 nm/Au 5 nm/TiO₂ 5 nm film stack. The TAuT film stack of TiO₂ 90 nm/Au 5 nm/TiO₂ 5 nm films is an optimized stack that may be an alternative candidate for transparent electrodes in flat panel displays.     

滤纸模板法二氧化钛纸的制备及其光催化活性

以滤纸为模板成功制备了由微带组成的二氧化钛纸光催化材料,利用红外光谱、热重量分析、X射线衍射、扫描电子显微镜对其进行了表征. 通过对甲基橙溶液在紫外光下的降解,考察了制得样品的光催化性能. 结果表明：锐钛矿/金红石比为10:1的二氧化钛纸具有最高的催化活性,且滤纸纤维提高样品的结晶度和锐钛矿的相转化温度. 并讨论了对二氧化钛纸的形成机理.     

Photocatalytic properties of TiO2 thin films obtained by glancing angle deposition

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) thin films with different nanostructures such as nano-particles and separated vertical columns were grown by glancing angle deposition (GLAD) in an electron beam evaporation system. The photocatalytic properties of grown TiO₂ films with different deposition angles and different annealing temperatures were evaluated by following decomposition of methyl orange under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation. The results suggest that increased surface area due to the GLAD process could improve the photocatalytic properties of TiO₂ films.     

Micro-structuring of TiO2 thin films by laser-assisted diffraction processing

Thin films of TiO₂ are deposited by magnetron sputtering on glass substrate and are irradiated by UV radiation using a KrF excimer laser (248 nm). These thin films are patterned with a razor blade placed on the way of the radiation just in front of the TiO₂ thin film. Just near the edge of the razor blade on the thin film, diffraction lines are observed, resulting in the ablation of the film. These patterns are characterized by optical microscopy, mechanical profilometry. Diffraction up to the 35th order is observed. The results are shown to be compatible with a model in which electronic excitation plays the major role.     

Visible photocurrent response of TiO2 anode

The photoelectrochemical response to the electromagnetic radiation over the visible range is particularly sought for from the point of view of the efficiency of hydrogen generation by water photolysis in a photoelectrochemical solar cell, PEC. The PEC used in this work comprises thin film TiO₂ - based photoanode, Pt foil covered with Pt black as a cathode and SCE as a reference electrode, immersed in an electrolyte solution. Titanium dioxide thin films are deposited by means of rf reactive sputtering and modified, when necessary, by Au or Ag ultra-thin overcoatings. Here we show that even unmodified TiO₂ photoanode, shows a photocurrent peak over the visible range of the light spectrum (λ = 500-650 nm). The effect of the surface modification by noble metals and properties of the aqueous electrolyte on the visible photocurrent are studied. The optical spectra indicate an increased absorption due to noble metal deposits at 410 nm for Ag and at 600 nm for Au. In contrast, the photocurrent peak over the visible range (500 nm < λ < 650 nm) changes its symmetry and decreases in intensity with the increasing thickness of noble metals layers. The visible photoresponse is explained in terms of OH formation at the interface between TiO₂ electrode and aqueous electrolyte.     

锐钛矿和金红石二氧化钛中光生载流子的超快动力学：电声相互作用研究

本文结合玻尔兹曼输运方程和电声散射速率计算研究锐钛矿和金红石二氧化钛中光生载流子的超快动力学过程. 其中,动力学模拟所需的结构参数均通过第一性原理计算获得. 结果表明,由于存在强Fr?hlich型电声耦合,纵光学声子模对两个晶相的能量弛豫过程均有十分显著的影响,但是两个晶相的弛豫机理却表现出明显的差异. 对于单条导带内的弛豫过程,锐钛矿和金红石的能量弛豫时间分别为24.0 fs和11.8 fs,前者约为后者的二倍. 这一差异来源于两个晶相中不同的电子扩散分布以及不同的声学模散射贡献. 对于涉及多条导带的弛豫过程,预测的锐钛矿和金红石的总体弛豫时间分别为47 fs和57 fs,其相对大小与单条导带的情况相反. 分析表明金红石相弛豫较慢是因为存在多个速率控制步骤. 这些发现为调控电子动力学以及设计高效的二氧化钛器件提供了有价值的信息.     

STM imaging of a model surface of Ru(4,4′-dicarboxy-2,2′-bipyridine)2(NCS)2 dye-sensitized TiO2 photoelectrodes

A TiO₂(1 1 0)-(1 × 1) surface was prepared in an ultra-high vacuum, transported in laboratory air, and observed with a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) operated in a vacuum of 10⁻⁴ Pa. Empty state images showed atomically flat terraces separated by single-height steps, on which 5-fold-coordinated surface Ti atoms were observed as spots arranged in a rectangular lattice. The Ru(4,4′-dicarboxy-2,2′-bipyridine)₂(NCS)₂ (N3) dye was adsorbed on the TiO₂ surface by immersing the TiO₂ wafer into an acetonitrile solution of the dye. In the empty state images, individual N3 molecules were observed as oval particles protruding by 0.6 nm from the TiO₂ surface. The oval shape elongated to the [1  0] directions was attributed to electron tunneling from tip to unoccupied states localized at the two carboxyl groups bound to the TiO₂ surface.     

直接观测乙醇分子在TiO2(110)面的光催化过程

利用扫描隧道显微镜研究了在低温(80 K)下乙醇分子在TiO₂(110)面的光解离过程．在这种温度下,大部分乙醇分子都以分子吸附的形式吸附在表面五配位钛位．在紫外光照射之后,乙醇发生了光解离,两种不同的产物特征被探测到．使用针尖操控技术对其中一种产物特征进行了详细的分析,成功了解了它的构成,中间一个五配位钛位吸附的乙醛分子加上位于左右两个不同氧列的羟基构成了这种产物．接着实施了多次光照实验来进一步研究乙醇两种光解离产物特征之间的联系．     

Influence of ammonia on the morphologies and enhanced photocatalytic activity of TiO2 micro/nanospheres

TiO₂ micro/nanospheres were synthesized by a combination process contains hydrolysis of titanium tetra-n-butyl in mixed solution of anhydrous ethanol/ammonia and the subsequent calcination under 550 °C for 7 h. The pH values of the mixed solution were tuned to be 10.4, 11.0 and 11.6, respectively, by adding different amounts of ammonia. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) were used to characterize the morphologies and the crystallinity. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns indicated that pH value of the precursors has an important effect on the crystal phase composition. UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectrum was applied to characterize the optical properties of samples. Degradation of methylene blue under the irradiation of 300 W Hg lamp confirmed the enhanced photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ micro/nanospheres. In addition, the formation mechanism was proposed.     

The adsorption of H2O on TiO2 and SnO2(110) studied by first-principles calculations

First-principles calculations based on density functional theory and the pseudopotential method have been used to investigate the energetics of H₂O adsorption on the (110) surface of TiO₂ and SnO₂. Full relaxation of all atomic positions is performed on slab systems with periodic boundary conditions, and cases of full and half coverage are studied. Both molecular and dissociative (H₂O→OH⁻+H⁻) adsorption are treated, and allowance is made for relaxation of the adsorbed species to unsymmetrica configurations. It is found that for both TiO₂ and SnO₂ an unsymmetrical dissociated configuration is the most stable. The symmetrical molecularly adsorbed configuration is unstable with respect to lowering of symmetry, and is separated from the fully dissociated configuration by at most a very small energy barrier. The calculated dissociative adsorption energies for TiO₂ and SnO₂ are in reasonable agreement with the results of thermal desorption experiments. Calculated total and local electronic densities of states for dissociatively and molecularly adsorbed configurations are presented, and their relation with experimental UPS spectra is discussed.     

Characterization of N,C-codoped TiO2 films prepared by reactive DC magnetron sputtering

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) films are deposited by codoping nitrogen and carbon on indium tin oxide-coated substrates as visible light (Vis)-enabled catalysts. The X-ray diffraction peak intensity of the preferential orientation in (2 1 1) plane declines when the topmost 1.0 μm layer of the film is ground off. The decrease in the crystallite size and the crystallinity of anatase TiO₂ film is also evidenced by a shift towards the high wave number and broadening of the Raman spectra. Low doping concentrations of N (1.3%) and C (1.8%) are estimated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) which displays an N 1s peak at 396.8 eV and a C 1s peak at 282.1 eV, respectively. This is attributed to the substitution of the oxygen sites with nitrogen and carbon, which is believed to be responsible for the Vis photocatalytic activity into a wavelength of >500 nm. The cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy images show larger pores at the grain boundaries and in larger columnar crystals than in the undoped TiO₂ film. All of these results indicate that porosity, crystallinity and shift in the preferential orientation are more pronounced close to the surface than close to the bottom of the sample. Wettability upon measurement of the water contact angle, methylene blue degradation and radical formation tests under both ultraviolet and Vis irradiation demonstrate that the topmost surface renders not only a larger reactive surface area but also a better carrier transport route than the rest of the film, improving its photocatalytic activity. These results show that surface porosity of the film is dominant than the tailoring of the photocatalytic activities of N,C-codoped TiO₂ catalysts.     

Preparation of aminofunctionalized TiO2 surfaces by binding of organophosphates

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) powder was chemically modified with 2-aminoethyl dihydrogen phosphate (AEPH₂) and with 2-aminoethyl hydrogen ammonium phosphate (AEPHNH₄) in order to achieve an aminofunctionalized high-surface-area TiO₂ carrier suitable for more complex functionalizing. AEPH₂ was found to form the monoammonium salt AEPHNH₄ with ammonium ion rather than the diammonium salt AEP(NH₄)₂. The AEPHNH₄ was thoroughly characterized by various techniques and compared with AEPH₂. Bonding of AEPH₂ and AEPHNH₄ with TiO₂ powder was studied. According to the ³¹P NMR and elemental analysis results, AEPH₂ and AEPHNH₄ form covalent chelate bidentate bonds between the phosphate group and the TiO₂, while the amino groups remain accessible, creating uniform aminofunctionalized TiO₂ surface fully occupied by AEP groups. Amount of AEP groups on TiO₂ was limited to 1.5 wt-%.     

Enhanced ferromagnetic properties of Fe+N codoped TiO2 anatase

The undoped, Fe-doped, N-doped and Fe+N codoped titanium dioxide (TiO₂) samples were synthesized. Detailed analysis shows that all the samples are pure anatase with the shape of a nanorod, and N and Fe ions are incorporated into the TiO₂ lattice. For all the samples, the saturation magnetization at room temperature is in the order of the Fe+N codoped TiO₂>N-doped TiO₂>Fe-doped TiO₂>undoped TiO₂. Upon N doping, enhanced ferromagnetic properties were observed. The N content in Fe+N codoped TiO₂ is about two times as large as that in the N-doped TiO₂, which may account for the largest saturation magnetization observed in Fe+N codoped TiO₂. It is suggested that metal ion and N codoping may provide a new approach for increasing the saturation magnetization in TiO₂-based dilute magnetic semiconductors.     

Preparation and performance of photocatalytic TiO2 immobilized on palladium-doped carbon fibers

Pd-modified carbon fibers (CFs) are obtained by a facile oxidation-reduction method and then dip-coated in a sol-gel of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) to form supported TiO₂/Pd-CF photocatalysts. The morphology of the Pd-modified CFs and the amount Pd deposited are characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic absorption spectrometry, respectively. X-ray diffraction is used to investigate the crystal structures of the TiO₂ photocatalyst. Acid orange II is used as a model contaminant to evaluate the photocatalytic properties of the photocatalyst under UV irradiation. TiO₂/Pd-CF exhibits higher catalytic activity than TiO₂/CF towards the degradation of acid orange II. Optimum photocatalytic performance and support properties are achieved when the Pd particle loading is about 10.8 mg/g.     

Pt/N-codoped TiO2 nanotubes and its photocatalytic activity under visible light

Pt/N-codoped TiO₂ nanotubes were prepared and characterized by various analytical methods, such as transmission electron microscope (TEM), diffuse reflection spectra (DRS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron emission spectroscopy (XPS) and fluorescence spectra (FL). The photocatalytic efficiency was evaluated by the photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RB) in an aqueous solution under visible light irradiation. It has been confirmed that Pt/N-codoped TiO₂ nanotubes could be excited by visible light and the recombination rate of electron-hole pairs declined significantly. The higher visible light activity is due to the codoping of nitrogen and platinum.