Optimized monolayer grafting of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane onto amorphous,anatase and rutile TiO2

Experimental conditions were studied for optimized attachment of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) onto amorphous, anatase and rutile titanium dioxide (TiO₂) surfaces. The attachment process and extent was characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In particular, the effect of attachment time, silane concentration, reaction temperature and the TiO₂ crystalline structure on the growth kinetics of the silane layers was studied. The measurements reveal that typically monolayers are more dense on amorphous than on crystalline TiO₂. The results show that critical experimental conditions exist where APTES attachment to the TiO₂ surface changes from a monolayer to a multilayer growth mode. The obtained results and parameters to produce optimized APTES layers are of a high practical relevance as APTES attachment often constitutes the initial step for organic modification of TiO₂ surface with biorelevant molecules such as proteins, enzymes or growth factors.     

A comparative DFT study of adsorption and catalytic performance of Au nanoparticles at anatase and brookite TiO2 surfaces

We have compared the adsorption properties of small Au_n (n = 1–8) nanoparticles on the defect-free (stoichiometric) and defective (partially reduced) brookite TiO₂(210) and anatase TiO₂(101) surfaces using density functional theory calculations. The interaction between Au atoms and anatase TiO₂(101) was determined to be quite weak and small Au_n particles grown at defects (O vacancies) prefer extended 2D structures. By contrast, dispersion and 3D configurations appear to be favored at brookite TiO₂(210) for Au_n nanoparticles due to their strong interaction. Calculations of CO oxidation at Au_n (n = 6–8) particles supported at defective brookite TiO₂(210) show that occurrence of protruding low-coordinated Au atoms is essential for favorable CO adsorption and subsequent reaction with O₂. In particular, the configuration of the Au_n nanoparticles can determine the energetics in the formation of active Au atoms, and their mobility also affects the reaction between CO and O₂ (or O).     

Structure of the rutile TiO2(011) surface in an aqueous environment

First principles simulations are carried out to investigate the structure and stability of the rutile TiO2(011) surface in contact with liquid water. Whereas this surface exhibits a (2×1) reconstruction in vacuo, our results show that the interaction with water leads to an inversion of the stabilities of the reconstructed and unreconstructed surfaces. This indicates that surface structures determined in vacuo or at low water coverages are not generally representative of those occurring in the aqueous environments typical of most photocatalytic applications of TiO2.     

Defects in rutile and anatase polymorphs of TiO2: kinetics and thermodynamics near grain boundaries

The direct consequence of irradiation on a material is the creation of point defects-typically interstitials and vacancies, and their aggregates-but it is the ultimate fate of these defects that determines the material's radiation tolerance. Thus, understanding how defects migrate and interact with sinks, such as grain boundaries, is crucial for predicting the evolution of the material. We examine defect properties in two polymorphs of TiO(2)-rutile and anatase-to determine how these materials might respond differently to irradiation. Using molecular statics and temperature accelerated dynamics, we focus on two issues: how point defects interact with a representative grain boundary and how they migrate in the bulk phase. We find that grain boundaries in both polymorphs are strong sinks for all point defects, though somewhat stronger in rutile than anatase. Further, the defect kinetics are very different in the two polymorphs, with interstitial species diffusing quickly in rutile while oxygen defects-both interstitials and vacancies-are fast diffusers in anatase. These results allow us to speculate on how grain boundaries will modify the radiation tolerance of these materials. In particular, grain boundaries in rutile will lead to a space charge layer at the boundary and a vacancy-rich damage structure, while in anatase the damage structure would likely be more stoichiometric, but with larger defects consisting primarily of Ti ions.     

Electrical properties and defect chemistry of anatase (TiO2)

The electrical properties of pure Anatase are investigated by impedance spectroscopy as function of temperature and oxygen partial pressure. The experimental results are fully interpreted by point defect chemistry. A transition from predominant Schottky to Frenkel cation disorder is observed when the temperature increases and/or the oxygen partial pressure decreases. The reduction enthalpies are near those obtained for Rutile in previous studies.     

Methylene bromide chemistry and photochemistry on rutile TiO2(110)

The chemistry and photochemistry of methylene bromide (CD₂Br₂) on the rutile TiO₂(110) surface was probed using temperature programmed desorption (TPD). CD₂Br₂ desorbed in three desorption states at 145, 160 and 250 K tentatively assigned to desorption from the multilayer, from an η¹-CD₂Br₂ species and a bridging η²-CD₂Br₂ species, respectively. The latter two TPD states presumably involve binding of CD₂Br₂ molecules to the surface through Br coordination at five-coordinate Ti⁴⁺ surface sites. The 160 and 250 K TPD states saturated at coverages of 1.0 and 0.33 ML, respectively, where 1 ML is equivalent to the surface Ti⁴⁺ site density (5.2 × 10¹⁴ cm^? 2). No thermal decomposition of CD₂Br₂ was observed on either the clean surface or with preadsorbed O₂. UV irradiation of CD₂Br₂ on TiO₂(110) resulted in predominately photodesorption, with trace amounts of photodecomposition evidenced in TPD. The rate of CD₂Br₂ photodesorption from TiO₂(110) occurred with a low cross section (~ 2 × 10^? 21 cm²) similar to that expected from direct optical excitation of CD₂Br₂. This observation suggests that charge carriers generated in TiO₂(110) were no more effective in activating adsorbed CD₂Br₂ molecules than would be expected through direct molecular excitation. These findings suggest that photocatalytic destruction of halocarbons such as CD₂Br₂ on TiO₂ may preferentially occur though indirect processes (such as OH radical attack) as opposed to direct electron transfer processes involving charge carriers generated in TiO₂ by bandgap excitation.     

Tracer impurity diffusion in single-crystal rutile (TiO2−x)

By means of the radioactive-tracer sectioning technique, the tracer diffusion of the impurity ions, ⁴⁶Sc, ⁵¹Cr, ⁵⁴Mn, ⁵⁹Fe, ⁶⁰Co, ⁶³Ni and ⁹⁵Zr, in rutile single crystals was measured as functions of crystal orientation, temperature, oxygen partial pressure and Al impurity content. The diffusion coefficients are very sensitive to the electric charge of the impurity ions. Divalent impurities (e.g., Co and Ni) diffuse extremely rapidly in TiO₂, compared to cation self-diffusion, and exhibit an extreme anisotropy in diffusion behavior, divalent-impurity diffusion parallel to the c-axis is much larger than it is perpendicular to the c-axis. Trivalent impurity ions (Sc and Cr) and tetravalent impurity ions (Zr) diffuse similar to cation self-diffusion, both as functions of temperature and oxygen partial pressure. The divalent impurity ions Co and Ni apparently diffuse as interstitial ions along open channels parallel to the c-axis. The results suggest that Sc, Cr and Zr ions diffuse by an interstitialcy mechanism involving the simultaneous and cooperative migration of tetravalent interstitial titanium ions and the tracer-impurity ions. Iron ions diffuse both as divalent and as trivalent ions. The impurity diffusion as functions of oxygen partial pressure and Al-impurity content are consistent with calculations of point-defect concentrations in rutile.     

Bonding of gold nanoclusters to oxygen vacancies on rutile TiO2(110)

Through an interplay between scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we show that bridging oxygen vacancies are the active nucleation sites for Au clusters on the rutile TiO2(110) surface. We find that a direct correlation exists between a decrease in density of vacancies and the amount of Au deposited. From the DFT calculations we find that the oxygen vacancy is indeed the strongest Au binding site. We show both experimentally and theoretically that a single oxygen vacancy can bind 3 Au atoms on average. In view of the presented results, a new growth model for the TiO2(110) system involving vacancy-cluster complex diffusion is presented.     

The nuclear quadrupole interaction at 111Cd and 181Ta sites in anatase and rutile TiO2: A TDPAC study

The nuclear quadrupole interaction of the I=5/2 state of the nuclear probes ¹¹¹Cd and ¹⁸¹Ta in the anatase and rutile polymorphs of bulk TiO₂ was studied using the time differential perturbed angular correlation (TDPAC) method. The fast–slow coincidence setup is based on CAMAC electronics. For anatase, the asymmetry parameter of the electric field gradient was η=0.22(1) and a quadrupole interaction frequency of ω_Q=44.01(3) Mrad/s was obtained for ¹⁸¹Ta. For rutile, the respective values are η=0.56(1) and ω_Q=130.07(9) Mrad/s. The values for rutile match closely with the literature values. In case of the ¹¹¹Cd probe produced from the beta decay of ¹¹¹Ag, the quadrupole interaction frequency for anatase was negligibly small as indicated by an unperturbed angular correlation in anatase. On the other hand for rutile the quadrupole frequency is ω_Q=61.74(2) Mrad/s and the asymmetry parameter η=0.23(1) for the ¹¹¹Cd probe. The results are interpreted in terms of the surrounding atom positions in the lattice and the charge state of the probe nucleus.     

Polymorphic transformations in nanostructured anatase (TiO2) under high-pressure shock compression

The action of dynamic pressure and temperature on polymorphic transformations in nanostructured (grain size of 8–20 nm) anatase (TiO₂) is studied. The dynamic pressure of a loading pulse (10–45 GPa) is measured with a manganin gauge. The temperature of shock-compressed specimens, which is varied by varying the initial temperature and initial porosity, is found to fall into the range 500–2500 K. It is shown that as the temperature and shock compression pressure rise, the nanostructured anatase turns into a nanoanatase-nanocolumbite or columbite-rutile mixture or into almost impurity-free (pure) nanocolumbite or impurity-free microcrystalline rutile.     

Sonocatalytic degradation of methyl orange in the presence of TiO2 catalysts and catalytic activity comparison of rutile and anatase

Rutile and anatase titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) powders were used as sonocatalysts for the degradation of methyl orange which was used as a model compound. Ultrasound was used as an irradiation source. It was found that the sonocatalytic degradation ratios of methyl orange in the presence of TiO(2) powder were much better than ones without any TiO(2), but the sonocatalytic activity of rutile TiO(2) particles was obviously higher than that of anatase TiO(2) particles. Although there are many factors influencing sonocatalytic degradation of methyl orange, the experimental results show that the best degradation ratio of methyl orange can be obtained when the experimental conditions of the initial methyl orange concentration of 10 mg/l, rutile TiO(2) added amount of 500 mg/l, ultrasonic frequency of 40 kHz, output power of 50 W, pH=3.0 and 40 degrees C within 150 min were adopted. In addition, the catalytic activity of reused rutile TiO(2) catalyst was also studied and found to be better than new rutile TiO(2) catalyst sometimes. All experimental results indicated that the method of the sonocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in the presence of TiO(2) powder was an advisable choice for treating non- or low-transparent organic wastewaters.     

Half-metallic behaviour in doped TiO2 (rutile) with double impurities: ab initio calculation

Dilute magnetic oxides are without doubt among the most interesting classes of magnetic materials. However, the nature of their electronic structure and magnetic exchange is far from understood. Here, we apply the ab initio augmented spherical wave (ASW) method, with corrected generalised gradient approximation to study the electronic structure and magnetic properties of doped TiO₂ rutile with double impurities. The study reveals a half-metallic ferromagnetic behaviour for Ti_1?2x Cr _x Mo _x O₂, and the local magnetic moments of the impurities and their oxidation states agree with the charge transfer between Cr and Mo, which would lead to the ferromagnetic state through the double-exchange mechanism in transition metal oxides.     

表面非金属掺杂对锐钛矿相TiO2(101) 面吸附NH3特性的影响

采用基于密度泛函理论(DFT-D)体系下的第一性原理平面波超软赝势方法,研究了被不同非金属（B、C、N、F）掺杂的TiO2(101)表面吸附NH3的特性与作用机理。研究发现：被非金属掺杂后的表面对NH3的吸附效果要优于未掺杂表面。不同元素掺杂对比发现：C掺杂后的表面吸附能最大,稳定后吸附距离最小,为最稳定吸附结构。通过Mulliken电荷分布和分态密度的分析,得到了不同吸附条件下NH3在TiO2掺杂表面的催化氧化还原作用机理,并发现各模型吸附能的不同是由于掺杂（X）位原子与NH3分子的相互作用强弱不同所造成。掺杂原子在费米面附近的电子态密度贡献越强,掺杂原子与NH3分子电荷转移的净值越小,吸附距离越小,吸附能越大,吸附更稳定。     

表面非金属掺杂对锐钛矿相TiO_2(101)面吸附NH_3特性的影响

采用基于密度泛函理论(DFT-D)体系下的第一性原理平面波超软赝势方法,研究了被不同非金属(B、C、N、F)掺杂的TiO_2(101)表面吸附NH_3的特性与作用机理.研究发现:被非金属掺杂后的表面对NH_3的吸附效果要优于未掺杂表面.不同元素掺杂对比发现:C掺杂后的表面吸附能最大,稳定后吸附距离最小,为最稳定吸附结构.通过Mulliken电荷分布和分态密度的分析,得到了不同吸附条件下NH_3在TiO_2掺杂表面的催化氧化还原作用机理,并发现各模型吸附能的不同是由于掺杂(X)位原子与NH_3分子的相互作用强弱不同所造成.掺杂原子在费米面附近的电子态密度贡献越强,掺杂原子与NH_3分子电荷转移的净值越小,吸附距离越小,吸附能越大,吸附更稳定.     

Titanium atoms dimerization phenomenon and magnetic properties of titanium-antisite (TiO) and chromium doped rutile TiO2, ab-initio calculation

The ab-initio calculations based on the Korringa Kohn Rostoker approximation approach combined with coherent potential approximation (KKR-CPA), were used to study the magnetic properties of the titanium anti-site (Ti_O) and chromium (Cr) doped TiO₂. In the considered systems, we used different concentrations for Ti_O defect and Cr doping. In TiO_2(0.98)(Ti_O)_0.02, the obtained results indicate that Ti_O is a donor having half-metal behavior. Ti_O[3d] band is located at the Fermi level, although isn’t 100% polarized, the ferromagnetic (FM) state is verified as being more stable than disordered local moment (DLM) state. For Ti_0.98Cr_0.02O₂ the Cr doping introduced new states which give the material half-metallic feature. The majority spin of Cr impurities are located at the Fermi level and the conduction electrons around the Fermi level are 100% spin polarized. This indicates the stability of (FM) state. Moreover, in Ti_0.98Cr_0.02O_2(0.98)(Ti_O)_0.02, the top of the valence band is shifted to lower energy compared to pure TiO₂, and the n-type of TiO₂ is verified. The majority spin of Cr[3d] are located at 0.025 Ry close to the Fermi level. The predicted Curie temperatures (Tc) were calculated using the mean field approximation (MFA) and we predicted that Ti_O defect in Cr doped TiO₂ makes Tc higher. This kind of defect makes the material useful for spinotronics's applications and devices.     

Ultrasonic synthesis and photocatalytic characterization of H3PW12O40/TiO2 (anatase)

A novel H₃PW₁₂O₄₀/TiO₂ (anatase) composite photocatalyst was prepared by a high-intensity ultrasonic method using a lower temperature (80 °C) and was characterized by XRD and FT-IR. Its photocatalytic activity, using solar light, was evaluated through the degradation of organic dye methylene blue (MB) in aqueous. When MB solution (50 mg/l, 200 ml) containing H₃PW₁₂O₄₀/TiO₂ (anatase) (0.4 g) was degraded by solar irradiation after 90 min, the removal of concentration and TOC of MB reached 95% and 73%, respectively. The photocatalyst activity of H₃PW₁₂O₄₀/TiO₂ (anatase) was much higher than TiO₂ which was prepared in the same way. H₃PW₁₂O₄₀/TiO₂ remained efficient after five repeated experiments.     

Structure of rutile TiO2 (110)-(1 x 2): formation of Ti2O3 quasi-1D metallic chains

Combining STM, LEED, and density functional theory, we determine the atomic surface structure of rutile TiO2 (110)-(1 x 2): nonstoichiometric Ti2O3 stripes along the [001] direction. LEED patterns are sharp and free of streaks, while STM images show monatomic steps, wide terraces, and no cross-links. At room temperature, atoms in the Ti2O3 group have large amplitudes of vibration. The long quasi-1D chains display metallic character, show no interaction between them, and cannot couple to bulk or surface states in the gap region, forming good atomic wires.