Photocatalytic Properties of TiO2: Evidence of the Key Role of Surface Active Sites in Water Oxidation

Defect Chemistry of Titanium Dioxide (Rutile). Progress Toward Sustainable Energy

This work, which overviews defect chemistry of TiO2 (rutile), is focused on atomic-size structural defects that are thermodynamically reversible. Here it is shown that thermodynamics can be used in defect engineering of TiO2-based energy materials, such as photoelectrodes and photocatalysts. We show that surface segregation of defects leads to the building-up of new surface structures that are responsible for reactivity. Since rational design of surface properties requires in situ surface characterization in operational conditions, expansion of bulk defect chemistry to surface defect chemistry requires a defect-related surface-sensitive tool for in situ monitoring of defect-related properties at elevated temperatures corresponding to defect equilibria and in a controlled gas-phase environment. Here we show that the high-temperature electron probe is a defect-related surface-sensitive tool that is uniquely positioned to aid surface defect engineering and determine unequivocal surface properties. The related applied aspects are considered for photoelectrochemical water splitting and the performance of solid oxide fuel cells. Here we report that trail-blazing studies on in situ surface monitoring of TiO2 during gas/solid equilibration, along with in situ characterization of surface semiconducting properties, leads to the discovery of a segregation-induced low-dimensional surface structure that is responsible for stable performance of oxide semiconductors, such as TiO2, in operational conditions.

Proanthocyanin-Capped Biogenic TiO2 Nanoparticles with Enhanced Penetration, Antibacterial and ROS Mediated Inhibition of Bacteria Proliferation and Biofilm Formation: A Comparative Approach

Biofunctionalized TiO₂ nanoparticles with a size range of 18.42±1.3 nm were synthesized in a single-step approach employing Grape seed extract (GSE) proanthocyanin (PAC) polyphenols. The effect of PACs rich GSE corona was examined with respect to 1) the stability and dispersity of as-synthesized GSE-TiO₂ -NPs, 2) their antiproliferative and antibiofilm efficacy, and 3) their propensity for internalization and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in urinary tract infections (UTIs) causing Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Gram-positive Staphylococcus saprophyticus strains. State-of-the-art techniques were used to validate GSE-TiO₂ -NPs formation. Comparative Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectral analysis demonstrated that PACs linked functional -OH groups likely play a central role in Ti⁴⁺ reduction and nucleation to GSE-TiO₂ -NPs, while forming a thin, soft corona around nascent NPs to attribute significantly enhanced stability and dispersity. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) and inductively coupled plasma mass-spectroscopy (ICP-MS) analyses confirmed there was significantly (p<0.05) enhanced intracellular uptake of GSE-TiO₂ -NPs in both Gram-negative and -positive test uropathogens as compared to bare TiO₂ -NPs. Correspondingly, compared to bare NPs, GSE-TiO₂ -NPs induced intracellular ROS formation that corresponded well with dose-dependent inhibitory patterns of cell proliferation and biofilm formation in both the tested strains. Overall, this study demonstrates that -OH rich PACs of GSE corona on biogenic TiO₂ -NPs maximized the functional stability, dispersity and propensity of penetration into planktonic cells and biofilm matrices. Such unique merits warrant the use of GSE-TiO₂ -NPs as a novel, functionally stable and efficient antibacterial nano-formulation to combat the menace of UTIs in clinical settings.

Adsorption and Photocatalytic Reduction of Carbon Dioxide on TiO2

The photocatalytic activity of TiO2 depends on numerous factors, such as the chemical potential of electrons, charge transport properties, band-gap energy, and concentration of surface-active sites. A lot of research has been dedicated to determining the properties that have the most significant influence on the photocatalytic activity of semiconductors. Here, we demonstrated that the activity of TiO2 in the gas-phase reduction of CO2 is governed mainly by the desorption rate of the reaction intermediates and final products. This indicates that the specific surface area of TiO2 and binding strength of reaction intermediates and products are the main factors affecting the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 in the investigated process. Additionally, it was shown that rutile exhibits higher photocatalytic activity than anatase/rutile mixtures mainly due to its high efficiency in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

W-Doped TiO2 for photothermocatalytic CO2 reduction

TiO₂ is one of the most widely used photocatalysts and photothermocatalysts. Tailoring their structure and electronic properties is crucial for the design of high-performance TiO₂ catalysts. Herein, we report a strategy to significantly enhance the performance of TiO₂ in the photothermocatalytic reduction of CO₂ by doping high crystalline nano-TiO₂ with tungsten. A variety of tungsten doping concentrations ranging from 2% to 10% were tested and they all showed enhanced catalytic activities. The 4% W-doped TiO₂ exhibited the highest activity, which was 3.5 times greater than that of the undoped TiO₂ reference. Structural characterization of these W-doped TiO₂ catalysts indicated that W was successfully doped into the TiO₂ lattice at relatively low dopant concentration. Synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy at both the W L₃- and Ti K-edges was further used to provide insight into the local structure and bonding properties of the catalysts. It was found that the replacement of Ti with W led to the formation of Ti vacancies in order to maintain the charge neutrality. Consequently, dangling oxygen and oxygen vacancies were produced that acted as catalytically active sites for the CO₂ reduction. As the W doping concentration increased from 2% to 4%, more such active sites were generated which thus resulted in the enhancement of the catalytic activity. When the W doping concentration was further increased to 10%, the extra W species that cannot replace the Ti in the lattice aggregated to form WO₃. Due to the lower conduction band of WO₃, the catalytic O sites were deactivated and CO₂ reduction was inhibited. This work presents a useful strategy for the development of highly efficient catalysts for CO₂ reduction as well as new insights into the catalytic mechanism in cation-doped TiO₂ photothermocatalysis.

The facile hydrothermal synthesis of CuO@ZnO heterojunction nanostructures for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

CuO@ZnO nanostructures prepared via a modified hydrothermal method exhibited superior catalytic activity in the removal of organic pollutants and more efficient H₂ production.

Water Splitting on Rutile TiO2 -Based Photocatalysts

Water splitting using a semiconductor photocatalyst with sunlight has long been viewed as a potential means of large-scale H₂ production from renewable resources. Different from anatase TiO₂ , rutile enables preferential water oxidation, which is useful for the construction of a Z-scheme water-splitting system. The combination of rutile TiO₂ with a suitable H₂ -evolution photocatalyst such as a Pt-loaded BaZrO₃ -BaTaO₂ N solid solution enables solar-driven water splitting into H₂ and O₂ . While rutile TiO₂ is a wide-gap semiconductor with a bandgap of 3.0 eV, co-doping of rutile TiO₂ with certain metal ions and/or nitrogen produces visible-light-driven photocatalysts, which are also useful as a component for water oxidation in visible-light-driven Z-scheme water splitting. The key to achieving highly efficient water oxidation is to maintain a charge balance of dopants in the rutile, because single doping typically produces trap states that capture photogenerated electrons and/or holes. Here we provide a concise summary of rutile TiO₂ -based photocatalysts for water-splitting systems.

Photoelectrocatalytic effect of unbalanced RF magnetron sputtered TiO2 thin film on ITO-coated patterned SiO2 nanocone arrays

Highly increased photocurrent response of unbalanced RF magnetron sputtered TiO₂ thin film on ITO-coated patterned SiO₂ nanocone arrays.

Synthesis of MOF templated Cu/CuO@TiO2nanocomposites for synergistic hydrogen production

A copper metal–organic framework (Cu-MOF) provides access to Cu/CuO@TiO₂hybrid nanocomposites which shows enhanced photoactivity for H₂evolution from water.