TY - JOUR
T1 - Controlling surface defects and photophysics in TiO2 nanoparticles
AU - Llansola-Portoles, Manuel J.
AU - Bergkamp, Jesse J.
AU - Finkelstein-Shapiro, Daniel
AU - Sherman, Benjamin D.
AU - Kodis, Gerdenis
AU - Dimitrijevic, Nada M.
AU - Gust, Devens
AU - Moore, Thomas
AU - Moore, Ana
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 American Chemical Society.
PY - 2014/11/13
Y1 - 2014/11/13
N2 - Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is widely used for photocatalysis and solar cell applications, and the electronic structure of bulk TiO2 is well understood. However, the surface structure of nanoparticulate TiO2, which has a key role in properties such as solubility and catalytic activity, still remains controversial. Detailed understanding of surface defect structures may help explain reactivity and overall materials performance in a wide range of applications. In this work we address the solubility problem and surface defects control on TiO2 nanoparticles. We report the synthesis and characterization of ∼4 nm TiO2 anatase spherical nanoparticles that are soluble and stable in a wide range of organic solvents and water. By controlling the temperature during the synthesis, we are able to tailor the density of defect states on the surface of the TiO2 nanoparticles without affecting parameters such as size, shape, core crystallinity, and solubility. The morphology of both kinds of nanoparticles was determined by TEM. EPR experiments were used to characterize the surface defects, and transient absorption measurements demonstrate the influence of the TiO2 defect states on photoinduced electron transfer dynamics.
AB - Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is widely used for photocatalysis and solar cell applications, and the electronic structure of bulk TiO2 is well understood. However, the surface structure of nanoparticulate TiO2, which has a key role in properties such as solubility and catalytic activity, still remains controversial. Detailed understanding of surface defect structures may help explain reactivity and overall materials performance in a wide range of applications. In this work we address the solubility problem and surface defects control on TiO2 nanoparticles. We report the synthesis and characterization of ∼4 nm TiO2 anatase spherical nanoparticles that are soluble and stable in a wide range of organic solvents and water. By controlling the temperature during the synthesis, we are able to tailor the density of defect states on the surface of the TiO2 nanoparticles without affecting parameters such as size, shape, core crystallinity, and solubility. The morphology of both kinds of nanoparticles was determined by TEM. EPR experiments were used to characterize the surface defects, and transient absorption measurements demonstrate the influence of the TiO2 defect states on photoinduced electron transfer dynamics.
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U2 - 10.1021/jp506284q
DO - 10.1021/jp506284q
M3 - Article
C2 - 25109403
AN - SCOPUS:84923244664
SN - 1089-5639
VL - 118
SP - 10631
EP - 10638
JO - Journal of Physical Chemistry A
JF - Journal of Physical Chemistry A
IS - 45
ER -