Surface X-ray diffraction study of annealed single-crystal rutile TiO2 (001) surface

• Published in: Ionics 2019-04, Vol.25 (4), p.1879-1886
• Main Authors: Ikuma, Yasuro, Yamana, Makoto, Yokose, Satoshi, Niwa, Koichi, Anandan, Srinivasan, Kuroda, Daiki, Tajiri, Hiroo, Sakata, Osami
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Annealing; Catalytic activity; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed Matter Physics; Crystal structure; Crystals; Diffraction patterns; Electrochemistry; Energy Storage; Low energy electron diffraction; Optical and Electronic Materials; Original Paper; Photocatalysis; Renewable and Green Energy; Rutile; Single crystals; Titanium dioxide; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0947-7047; 1862-0760
• DOI: 10.1007/s11581-018-2692-2

A polished rutile TiO 2 (001) surface was annealed at 410 °C and studied using low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) and surface X-ray diffraction (SXRD). The LEED pattern revealed a (1 × 1) structure. The crystal truncation rods (CTRs) obtained using SXRD were analyzed to reveal the structure of the annealed TiO 2 (001) surface. We found that about 40% of the surface was flat and the remaining 60% consisted of facets. The facets were mainly {011}-oriented. They were three layers deep and contained no terraces. It was reported that TiO 2 (001) surface annealed at 410 °C exhibited more moderate photocatalytic activity than the HF-treated surface. Comparing these results, it was concluded that the formation of {011} facet lowered the photocatalytic activity of annealed TiO 2 (001) surface than as-received surface.