The role of Ti3+ interstitials in TiO2(110) reduction and oxidation

Bowker, M. and Bennett, R.A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6266-3510 (2009) The role of Ti3+ interstitials in TiO2(110) reduction and oxidation. Journal of Physics-Condensed Matter, 21 (47). p. 9. ISSN 0953-8984 doi: 10.1088/0953-8984/21/47/474224

Abstract/Summary

Here we describe results which teach us much about the mechanism of the reduction and oxidation of TiO2(110) by the application of scanning tunnelling microscopy imaging at high temperatures. Titania reduces at high temperature by thermal oxygen loss to leave localized (i.e. Ti3+) and delocalized electrons on the lattice Ti, and a reduced titania interstitial that diffuses into the bulk of the crystal. The interstitial titania can be recalled to the surface by treatment in very low pressures of oxygen, occurring at a significant rate even at 573 K. This re-oxidation occurs by re-growth of titania layers in a Volmer-Weber manner, by a repeating sequence in which in-growth of extra titania within the cross-linked (1 x 2) structure completes the (1 x 1) bulk termination. The next layer then initiates with the nucleation of points and strings which extend to form islands of cross-linked (1 x 2), which once again grow and fill in to reform the (1 x 1). This process continues in a cyclical manner to form many new layers of well-ordered titania. The details of the mechanism and kinetics of the process are considered.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/11046
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy > Department of Chemistry
Uncontrolled Keywords	SCANNING-TUNNELING-MICROSCOPY, RUTILE 110 SURFACE, TITANIUM-DIOXIDE, TIO2, OXYGEN, DIFFUSION, RECONSTRUCTIONS, SPECTROSCOPY, DEFECTS, SCIENCE
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