Effect of TiO2 modification with fluorine on the physicochemical properties and activity in the photocatalytic oxidation of pollutants in air under UV irradiation

The influence of the modification of the TiO₂ surface with F^? ions on the physicochemical properties of the catalysts and efficiency in the photooxidation of gaseous molecules under atmospheric conditions and under UV irradiation was studied by IR spectroscopy. The fluorine-containing samples adsorb more water molecules than unmodified TiO₂. The amount of adsorbed water increases with increasing content of surface fluoride ions. The fluorination of the TiO₂ surface first leads to the substitution of the terminal OH groups by F^? ions and to an increase in acidity of the bridging acidic OH groups remained on the surface. The modification also results in the structural rearrangement of the surface involving defective and surface Ti⁴⁺ sites. Fluorine modification increases the activity of TiO₂ in the photocatalytic oxidation of ethanol, acetaldehyde, acetic acid, and acetone. At the same time, benzene and H₂S are oxidized more rapidly on unmodified TiO₂. The presence of fluorine on the TiO₂ surface exerts almost no effect on the oxidation rate of chlorine-containing substrates C₃H₇Cl and C₂H₄Cl₂.

     

An EPR study of thermally and photochemically generated oxygen radicals on hydrated and dehydrated titania surfaces

The formation of a series of oxygen-centred radicals on different TiO₂ samples (P25 and two different rutile materials) under various conditions was investigated using X-band c.w. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The radicals were formed either on thermally-reduced TiO₂, or by UV irradiation of the oxide under an oxygen atmosphere. The nature and stability of the radicals was also explored as a function of surface hydration. On thermally reduced TiO₂, containing surface and bulk Ti³⁺ centres, oxygen adsorption at 300 K results in the preferential formation and stabilisation of O₂ ^- anions on the P25 surface, but O^- and O₃ ^- anions are generated on the rutile surfaces. Superoxide anions (O^-) and trapped holes (O₂ ^-) were also identified after photo-irradiation of the thoroughly dehydrated TiO₂ samples under oxygen. The O^- anions were only visible at low temperatures under continuous irradiation, while the O₂ ^- anions were stable for days at 300 K. By comparison, on fully hydrated surfaces, no stable oxygen centred radicals could be detected on P25, while O₂ ^- anions were easily observed on the rutile surfaces. On partially hydrated P25, the O^-, O₂ ^- and HO₂ anions were detected after UV irradiation at 77 K; all radicals decayed upon warming to 298 K. On partially hydrated rutile, the O^- and O₂ ^- anions were detected and, unlike the case for P25, were found to be stable for days under the same conditions. The results illustrate the varied formation and stability of the oxygen centred radicals on TiO₂ surfaces depending on the pretreatment conditions.     

First-principles study of the electronic and magnetic properties of oxygen-deficient rutile TiO2(1 1 0) surface

Based on first-principles electronic structure calculations we find that the bridging oxygen vacancies on the (1 1 0) surface is more favorable and may be responsible for the unexpected ferromagnetism in undoped rutile TiO₂. Our results show that the ferromagnetism largely originates from the d orbitals of low-charge-state Ti ions converted from Ti⁴⁺ ions induced by the surface oxygen vacancies. The second-nearest neighbors of these ions (fivefold coordinated Ti) also contribute to the total magnetic moments. The spins induced by the local oxygen vacancies form a ferromagnetic arrangement.     

Interaction of CO2 with small rutile crystallites-an EHMO study

Several possible adsorption sites and adsorption geometries of CO₂ on small rutile fragments were studied by Extended Hückel Molecular Orbital (EHMO) calculations. The parameters for the rutile part were optimised to reproduce the experimental rutile bulk structure and were tested in several small clusters up to [(TiO₂)₃₁(OH)₃₂]^32??6H₂O, a 175 atoms cluster. It was found that the average experimental bond legth can be reproduced with good accuracy. However the slight distortion of the TiO₆ octahedra is calculated with the wrong sign (four long and two short Ti?O bonds). The agreement for the angle α_O-Ti-O is less satisfactory. The study shows that CO₂ can adsorb on fivefold coordinated surface titanium sites as well as surface oxygen sites. This means that CO₂ can act as either Lewis base or acid. In the case of binding as a Lewis base, CO₂ can adsorb linearly forming a single Ti?OCO bond, or interact with two neighboring Ti⁴⁺ sites. A chelating structure forming two Ti?O bonds was found to be weakly stable at the most. When CO₂ behaves as a Lewis acid, a carbonate-like structure is formed by interaction with either terminal oxygen ions or bridging oxygen centers.     

Synthesis of W‐doped TiO2 by low‐temperature hydrolysis: Effects of annealing temperature and doping content on the surface microstructure and photocatalytic activity

A series of tungsten‐doped Titania photocatalysts were synthesized using a low‐temperature method. The effects of dopant concentration and annealing temperature on the phase transitions, crystallinity, electronic, optical, and photocatalytic properties of the resulting material were studied. The X‐ray patterns revealed that the doping delays the transition of anatase to rutile to a high temperature. A new phase W_yTi_1‐yO₂ appeared for 5.00 wt% W‐TiO₂ annealed at 900 °C. Raman and diffuse reflectance UV–Vis spectroscopy showed that band gap values decreased slightly up to 700 °C. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that surface species viz. Ti³⁺, Ti⁴⁺, O^2?, oxygen‐vacancies, and adsorbed OH groups vary depending on the preparation conditions. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated via the degradation of methylene blue using LED white light. The degradation rate was affected by the percentage of dopants. The best photocatalytic activity was achieved with the sample labeled 5.00 wt% W‐TiO₂ annealed at 700 °C.     

Photoinduced Decomposition of Formaldehyde on Rutile TiO2(100)-(1×1)?

We have investigated the photoinduced decomposition of formaldehyde (CH₂O) on a rutile TiO₂(100)-(1×1) surface at 355 nm using temperature-programmed desorption. Products, formate (HCOO^-), methyl radical (CH₃·), ethylene (C₂H₄), and methanol (CH₃OH) have been detected. The initial step in the decomposition of CH₂O on the rutile TiO₂(100)-(1×1) surface is the formation of a dioxymethylene intermediate in which the carbonyl O atom of CH₂O is bound to a Ti atom at the five-fold-coordinated Ti⁴⁺ (Ti_5c) site and its carbonyl C atom bound to a nearby bridge-bonded oxygen (O_b) atom, respectively. During 355 nm irradiation, the dioxymethylene intermediate can transfer an H atom to the O_b atom, thus forming HCOO^- directly, which is considered as the main reaction channel. In addition, the dioxymethylene intermediate can also transfer methylene to the O_b row and break the C-O bond, thus leaving the original carbonyl O atom at the Ti_5c site. After the transfer of methylene, several pathways to products are available. Thus, we have found that O_b atoms are intimately involved in the photoinduced decomposition of CH₂O on the rutile TiO₂(100)-(1×1) surface.     

Probing Surface Sites of TiO2: Reactions with [HRe(CO)5] and [CH3Re(CO)5]

Two carbonyl complexes of rhenium, [HRe(CO)₅] and [CH₃Re(CO)₅], were used to probe surface sites of TiO₂ (anatase). These complexes were adsorbed from the gas phase onto anatase powder that had been treated in flowing O₂ or under vacuum to vary the density of surface OH sites. Infrared (IR) spectra demonstrate the variation in the number of sites, including Ti⁺³? OH and Ti⁺⁴? OH. IR and extended X‐ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra show that chemisorption of the rhenium complexes led to their decarbonylation, with formation of surface‐bound rhenium tricarbonyls, when [HRe(CO)₅] was adsorbed, or rhenium tetracarbonyls, when [CH₃Re(CO)₅] was adsorbed. These reactions were accompanied by the formation of water and surface carbonates and removal of terminal hydroxyl groups associated with Ti⁺³ and Ti⁺⁴ ions on the anatase. Data characterizing the samples after adsorption of [HRe(CO)₅] or [CH₃Re(CO)₅] determined a ranking of the reactivity of the surface OH sites, with the Ti⁺³? OH groups being the more reactive towards the rhenium complexes but the less likely to be dehydroxylated. The two rhenium pentacarbonyl probes provided complementary information, suggesting that the carbonate species originate from carbonyl ligands initially bonded to the rhenium and from hydroxyl groups of the titania surface, with the reaction leading to the formation of water and bridging hydroxyl groups on the titania. The results illustrate the value of using a family of organometallic complexes as probes of oxide surface sites.     

Phase constitution,structure analysis and microwave dielectric properties of Zn0.5Ti1−xZrxNbO4 ceramics

The phase constitution and phase structure of Zn_0.5Ti_1−xZr_xNbO₄ ceramics were analyzed by multiphase structure refinement. The diffraction patterns of Zn_0.5Ti_1−xZr_xNbO₄ showed that the ixiolite phase ZnTiNb₂O₈ and rutile phase Zn_0.15Nb_0.30Ti_0.55O₂ were obtained. The distortion of oxygen octahedron, bond valence of Ti-site and volume of oxygen octahedron were calculated. For the main phase ZnTiNb₂O₈, with substitution of Zr⁴⁺ for Ti⁴⁺, the distortion of oxygen octahedron and the bond valence of Ti-site increased. The increase of Ti-site bond valence led to a harder rattling of Ti cations of the specimens. As a result, the contribution of the rattling effect to the polarizabilities of the specimens decreased, and subsequently the dielectric constant decreased. With increasing fraction of Zn_0.15Nb_0.30Ti_0.55O₂, the Qf value decreased. The decrease of τ_f was mainly attributed to the increase of Ti-site bond valence. With the Ti-site bond valence increasing, the bonding strength between oxygen ion and Ti⁴⁺ ion became stronger, and the dilution of the average ionic polarizability decreased.     

Active Sites for Adsorption and Reaction of Molecules on Rutile TiO2(110) and Anatase TiO2(001) Surfaces (cited: 1)

The reactivity of specific sites on rutile TiO₂(110)-(1×1) surface and anatase TiO₂(001)-(1×4) surface has been comparably studied by means of high resolution scanning tunneling microscopy. At the rutile TiO₂(110)-(1×1) surface, we find the defects of oxygen vacancy provide distinct reactivity for O₂ and CO₂ adsorption, while the terminal fivefold-coordinated Ti sites dominate the photocatalytic reactivity for H₂O and CH₃OH dissociation. At the anatase TiO₂(001)-(1×4) surface, the sixfold-coordinated terminal Ti sites at the oxidized surface seem to be inert in both O₂ and H₂O reactions, but the Ti-rich defects which introduce the Ti³⁺ state into the reduced surface are found to provide high reactivity for the reactions of O₂ and H₂O. By comparing the reactions on both rutile and anatase surfaces under similar experimental conditions, we find the reactivity of anatase TiO₂(001) is actually lower than rutile TiO₂(110), which challenges the conventional knowledge that the anatase (001) is the most reactive TiO₂ surface. Our findings could provide atomic level insights into the mechanisms of TiO₂ based catalytic and photocatalytic chemical reactions.     

Selective and Reversible Fluoride Complexation from Water by a Cyclic Tri(phosphonio)methanide Dication

Tri(phosphonio)methanide dication 3 ²⁺, prepared from a trifluoromethylsulfanylphosphonium dication ( 1 ²⁺) via an intramolecular electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction, is an unexpected P‐based, water‐resistant Lewis acid that is capable to selectively and reversibly bind fluoride ions from organic/aqueous biphasic solution. The formed complex is an unusual fluorophosphorane ( [3‐F] OTf). The multiple donor–acceptor interactions of 3 ²⁺ that are crucial for the fluoride fixation have been elucidated by quantum chemical calculation. Compound [3‐F] OTf can also be used as a convenient anhydrous fluoride ion source and was probed as a suitable catalyst of the silylotrifluoromethylation of various aldehydes.     

EPR Studies of Photoreduction of Ni/TiO2 Catalysts

Irradiations of Ni/TiO₂ catalyst by UV in hydrogen at 77 K produced not only Ni⁺ ions on the catalyst surface, but also Ni³⁺ and Ti³⁺ species in bulk or near the interface between nickel and titania. These photo-generated species were detected and characterized by low temperature electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Relative spin concentrations of the photogenerated paramagnetic species (Niⁿ⁺ and Ti³⁺) varied with the nickel content in titania. A high nickel content in the sample resulted in a high peak intensity ratio of Niⁿ⁺ to Ti³⁺. It was found that the photoinduced self-redox reaction of Ni²⁺ ions to form Ni⁺ and Ni³⁺ ions has a priority over the photoreduction of Ti⁴⁺ to Ti³⁺ ions. The characteristic EPR spectrum of the Ni³⁺ (3d⁷) ions with g₁ = 2.268, g₂ = 2.237, and g₃ = 2.045 indicates that the Ni³⁺ ions are most likely located in the substitutional sites of TiO₂, possibly near the surface rutile phase. The Ni⁺ species (3d⁹) with g₄ = 2.130 and g₁ = 2.063 are on the surface of TiO₂. Both Ni⁺ and Ni³⁺ ions are quite stable in hydrogen. The Ni³⁺ ions seem to be responsible for anchoring the nickel ions onto titania and stablizing the Ni⁺ species on the surface. The Ni⁺ ions are thus free from oxygen poisoning and still show a high activity toward olefin oligomerization.     

Peculiarities of ESR spectra of V?Ti oxide systems

ESR analysis of 1–20 wt. % V₂O₅ samples heated at 700–950°C has revealed the formation of V⁴⁺ ion clusters upon V⁴⁺ ion stabilization in Ti⁴⁺ substitution points of rutile.     

Bulk and surface analysis of Ti1–xFexO2/Fe2O3 composites prepared by solid state reaction for photocatalytic applications

Ti_1–xFe_xO₂ / Fe₂O₃ (x = 0.3, 0.6, and 0.7 wt%) composites were prepared by solid state reaction of the oxides TiO₂ (rutile phase) and Fe₂O₃ at 550 °C. The following techniques were applied for the characterization of the composites: X‐ray powder diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy, SEM, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy and adsorption of nitrogen. The anatase/rutile/hematite ratio and the abundance of Fe³⁺ were quantified. The results indicate that Fe³⁺ substituted Ti⁴⁺ in the rutile structure and that the α‐Fe₂O₃ phase was predominantly on the surface of the crystalline Ti_1–xFe_xO₂ powders. A substantial increase of the materials density, with respect to rutile, favoured the application of the composites in photocatalytic experiments. The performance of the solids upon the photodegradation of aqueous solutions of carbofuran was evaluated. The Lewis sites created in the composites correlated directly with the photodegradation rate constant of carbofuran and the decrease of the total organic carbon content in the treated solutions. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Compensation modes in counterdoped rutile

Thermogravimetric measurements were conducted on undoped, Nb⁵⁺ or Ta⁵⁺ donor-doped, and Al³⁺ acceptor doped rutile at 1000°C and 10⁵–10⁻⁷ Pa oxygen activity. Nb⁵⁺ or Ta⁵⁺ doped rutile was counterdoped by Al³⁺ in order to identify the role of Al³⁺ acceptor and its effect on donor doped rutile. Our results show that both dopants enter the lattice substitutionally for Ti⁴⁺, that Al³⁺ is as effective an acceptor as Nb⁵⁺ or that Ta⁵⁺ is effective as a donor, and the compensation occurs on a one-to-one basis. Earlier reports indicate that Al³⁺ is at best 50–70% efficient as an acceptor.     

Study of the geometry and location of the bridging OH groups in aluminosilicate and silicoaluminophosphate type zeolites using 1H MAS NMR sideband analysis and CP/MAS NMR

A numerical analysis of the ¹H MAS NMR sideband pattern of the bridging OH groups in various zeolites of the aluminosilicate type (LTA, faujasite, erionite, mordenite, pentasil) and of the silicoaluminophosphate type (SAPO-5, −17, −34, −37) yields H-Al distances of the hydroxyl protons to the adjacent framework aluminium nucleus which cover a range between 0.234 and 0.252 nm. From the results, a relation between the H-Al distance and the size of the oxygen rings (6−, 8−, 10− and 12-membered oxygen rings) could be derived. Using ²⁹Si CP/MAS NMR it was shown that the bridging OH groups in zeolites of the aluminosilicate type are located at the Si(nAl) sites with the largest possible number n. While the second coordination sphere of the T positions of the bridging OH groups in zeolites of the silicoaluminophosphate type (Si/(Al + P + Si) < 0.12) is occupied by the same number of phosphorus and aluminium atoms, the bridging OH groups in zeolites of the aluminosilicate type with medium framework aluminium densities are located at the Si(nAl) sites with n = 3, 2 and 1.     

Lithium adsorption on TiO2: studies with electron spectroscopies (MIES and UPS)

The adsorption of lithium atoms on rutile TiO₂(110) single crystals was studied with metastable‐induced electron spectroscopy (MIES) and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS(HeI)) between 130 K and room temperature. Some auxiliary measurements on W(110) required for data interpretation are also reported. At 130 K ionic adsorption at titania prevails up to 0.3 monolayer equivalents (MLE) as judged from the weak Li(2s) emission in MIES for these exposures. The reduction of the Ti⁴⁺ cation is manifested by the growth of an occupied bandgap state in UPS: the alkali s‐electron is transferred to a near‐surface cation, thereby reducing it to Ti³⁺ 3d. The transfer of the s‐electron is responsible for the observed work function decrease up to ～0.5 MLE coverage. From the analysis of the UPS Ti³⁺ 3d signal, as well as from the Li(2s) emission, it is concluded that the degree of ionicity of the adsorbed Li decreases from 100% at 0.3 MLE to 40% at 0.7 MLE. Above 0.5 MLE the MIES spectra are dominated by an Li(2s)‐induced peak indicating the presence of Li with an at least partially filled 2s orbital. At temperatures above 160 K this peak is almost absent. Excluding Li desorption at these temperatures, we suggest that Li moves into or below the rutile TiO₂(110) surface above 160 K. Lithium insertion into the surface and intercalation are discussed. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electronic and Structural Properties of Highly Aluminum Ion Doped TiO2 Nanoparticles: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study

This study presents the experimental and theoretical study of highly internally Al‐doped TiO₂ nanoparticles. Two synthesis methods were used and detailed characterization was performed. There were differences in the doping and the crystallinity, but the nanoparticles synthesized with the different methods share common features. Anatase to rutile transformation occurred at higher temperatures with Al doping. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed the generation of oxygen vacancies, which is an interesting feature in photocatalysis. In turn, the band‐gap energy and the valence band did not change appreciably. Periodic density functional calculations were performed to model the experimentally doped structures, the formation of the oxygen vacancies, and the band gap. Calculation of the density of states confirmed the experimental band‐gap energies. The theoretical results confirmed the presence of Ti⁴⁺ and Al³⁺. The charge density study and electron localization function analysis indicated that the inclusion of Al in the anatase structure resulted in a strengthening of the Ti?O bonds around the vacancy.     

On the hydrolysis of the titanium(IV) ion in chloride media

Determinations of the [Ti(IV)]/[Ti(III) ratio in solutions of titanium(IV) chloride equilibrated with H₂(g), at 25°C in 3 M (Na)Cl ionic medium, have indicated the predominance of the Ti(OH)₂²⁺ species in the concentration ranges 0.5 ? [H⁺] ? 2 M and 1.5 x 10^?3 ? [Ti(IV)] ? 0.05 M. From the equilibrium data the reduction potential has been evaluated Ti(OH)₂²⁺ + 2 H⁺ + e ? Ti³⁺ + 2H₂O, E_oH = (7.7 ± 0.6) x 10^?3 V. The acidification reactions of Ti(OH)₂²⁺ were also studied in 12 M(Li)Cl medium at 25°C by measuring the redox potential of the Ti(IV)/Ti(III) couple as a function of [H⁺]. The potentiometric data in the acidity range 0.3 ? [H⁺] ? 12 M have been explained by assuming Ti⁴⁺ + e ? Ti³⁺, E_o = 0.202 ± 0.002 V Ti⁴⁺ + H₂O ? TiOH³⁺ + H⁺, log K_a1 = 0.3 ± 0.01 Ti⁴⁺ + 2H₂O ? Ti(OH)₂²⁺ + 2H⁺, log K_a1K_a2 = 1.38 ± 0.05.     

The oxidation state of antimony and electrical properties in antimony-doped rutile

The reaction of TiO₂ with Sb₂O₄ for temperatures in the range of 650 to 1000°C indicates that Sb can dissolve in rutile up to the proportion of 7 mole% in an Sb₂O₄ equivalent. With increasing content of Sb, the unit cell volume increased gradually. From the results on the binding energies of 530.6 eV forSb(3d₃₂) and 540.1 eV forSb(3d₅₂), it is expected that Sb was substituted as Sb³⁺ ion for Ti⁴⁺ in the rutile structure. Theac resistivities of rutile with Sb are in the range of 10² to 10⁵ ohm · m at room temperature. The frequency and temperature dependencies of the dielectric constant can be elucidated by the ionic polarization model coupling Sb with oxygen vacancy. The activation energy, giving a loss maximum, was determined to be 0.15–0.17 eV over a frequency range of 10⁴ to 10⁷ Hz.