Chenbiao Xu

Stepwise Photocatalytic Dissociation of Methanol and Water on TiO2(110)

We have investigated the photocatalysis of partially deuterated methanol (CD(3)OH) and H(2)O on TiO(2)(110) at 400 nm using a newly developed photocatalysis apparatus in combination with theoretical calculations. Photocatalyzed products, CD(2)O on Ti(5c) sites, and H and D atoms on bridge-bonded oxygen (BBO) sites from CD(3)OH have been clearly detected, while no evidence of H(2)O photocatalysis was found. The experimental results show that dissociation of CD(3)OH on TiO(2)(110) occurs in a stepwise manner in which the O-H dissociation proceeds first and is then followed by C-D dissociation. Theoretical calculations indicate that the high reverse barrier to C-D recombination and the facile desorption of CD(2)O make photocatalytic methanol dissociation on TiO(2)(110) proceed efficiently. Theoretical results also reveal that the reverse reactions, i.e, O-H recombination after H(2)O photocatalytic dissociation on TiO(2)(110), may occur easily, thus inhibiting efficient photocatalytic water splitting.

Molecular Hydrogen Formation from Photocatalysis of Methanol on TiO2(110)

It is well established that adding methanol to water could significantly enhance H2 production by TiO2. Recently, we have found that methanol can be photocatalytically dissociated on TiO2(110) at 400 nm via a stepwise mechanism. However, how molecular hydrogen can be formed from the photocatalyzed methanol/TiO2(110) surface is still not clear. In this work, we have investigated deuterium formation from photocatalysis of the fully deuterated methanol (CD3OD) on TiO2(110) at 400 nm using a temperature programmed desorption (TPD) technique. Photocatalytic dissociation products formaldehyde (CD2O) and D-atoms on BBO sites (via D2O TPD product) have been detected. In addition to D2O formation by heating the photocatalyzed methanol/TiO2(110) surface, we have also observed D2 product formation. D2 is clearly formed via thermal recombination of the D-atoms on the BBO sites from photocatalysis of methanol. Experimental results indicate that D2O formation is more important than D2 formation and that D2 formation is clearly affected by the D2O formation process.

Molecular Hydrogen Formation from Photocatalysis of Methanol on Anatase-TiO2(101)

Photocatalysis of methanol (CH3OH) on anatase (A)-TiO2(101) has been investigated using temperature programmed desorption (TPD) method with 266 nm light at low surface temperatures. Experimental results show that CH3OH adsorbs on the A-TiO2(101) surface predominantly in molecular form, with only a small amount of CH3OH in dissociated form. Photocatalytic products, formaldehyde (CH2O) and methyl formate (HCOOCH3), have been detected under 266 nm light irradiation. In addition to H2O formation, H2 product is also observed by TPD spectroscopy. Experimental results indicate that H2 product is formed via thermal recombination of H-atoms on the BBO sites from photocatalysis of CH3OH on the A-TiO2(101) surface, and H2 production on the A-TiO2(101) surface is significantly more efficient than that on the rutile (R)-TiO2(110) surface.

Effect of the Hydrogen Bond in Photoinduced Water Dissociation: A Double-Edged Sword.

Photoinduced water dissociation on rutile-TiO2 was investigated using various methods. Experimental results reveal that the water dissociation occurs via transferring an H atom to a bridge bonded oxygen site and ejecting an OH radical to the gas phase during irradiation. The reaction is strongly suppressed as the water coverage increases. Further scanning tunneling microscopy study demonstrates that hydrogen bonds between water molecules have a dramatic effect on the reaction. Interestingly, a single hydrogen bond in water dimer enhances the water dissociation reaction, while one-dimensional hydrogen bonds in water chains inhibit the reaction. Density functional theory calculations indicate that the effect of hydrogen bonds on the OH dissociation energy is likely the origin of this remarkable behavior. The results suggest that avoiding a strong hydrogen bond network between water molecules is crucial for water splitting.

Surface Photocatalysis-TPD Spectrometer for Photochemical Kinetics

A surface photocatalysis-TPD apparatus devoted to studying kinetics and mechanism of photocatalytic processes with various signal crystal surfaces has been constructed. Extremely high vacuum (~0.2 nPa) in the ionization region is obtained by using multiple ultrahigh vacuum pumps. Compared with similar instruments built previously by others, the H2, CH4 background in the ionization region can be reduced by about two orders of magnitude, and other residual gases in the ionization region can be reduced by about an order of magnitude. Therefore, the signal-to-noise ratio for the temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and time of flight (TOF) spectra is substantially enhanced, making experimental studies of photocatalytic processes on surfaces much easier. In this work, we describe the new apparatus in detail and present some preliminary studies on the photo-induced oxygen vacancy defects on TiO2(110) at 266 nm by using the TPD and TOF methods. Preliminary results suggest that the apparatus is a powerful tool for studying kinetics and mechanism of photochemical processes.

The role of water in photocatalytic dissociation of methanol on rutile TiO2(110)-(1 × 1)

Abstract We have performed a surface photocatalysis study of the molecularly adsorbed forms of methanol on a vacuum-annealed rutile TiO 2 (110)-(1 × 1) surface using temperature-programmed desorption both with and without coadsorbed water to investigate the effect of water and methanol on the photocatalytic dissociation of each other on rutile TiO 2 (110)-(1 × 1). Our experimental results show conclusively that methanol has no effect on photocatalytic water splitting with water covered rutile TiO 2 (110)-(1 × 1) surface. Further experimental results also show that water does not affect the process of photocatalytic methanol dissociation but does suppress photo-induced desorption of the formaldehyde product of methanol photocatalysis and can enhance the formation of the methyl formate product.

Suppression of Photoinduced BBO Defects Generation on TiO2(110) by Water

We have investigated creation of variable concentrations of defects on TiO2(110)−(1×1) surface by 266 nm laser using temperature programmed desorption technique. Oxygen‐vacancy defects can be easily induced by ultraviolet light, the defects concentration has a linear dependence on power density higher than 50 mW/cm2 for 90 s irradiation. No observation of O2 molecule and Ti atom desorption suggests that UV induced defects creation on TiO2(110)−(1×1) is an effective and gentle method. With pre‐dosage of thin films of water, the rate of defects creation on TiO2(110)−(1×1) is slower at least by two orders of magnitude than bare TiO2(110)−(1×1) surface. Further investigations show that water can be more easily desorbed by UV light, and thus desorption of bridging oxygen is depressed.