The optical absorption edge of brookite TiO2 was measured at room temperature, using natural crystals. The measurements extend up to 3.54 eV in photon energy and 2000 cm in absorption coefficient. The observed absorption edge is broad and extends throughout the visible, quite different from the steep edges of rutile and anatase. No evidence of a direct gap is seen in the range measured. The spe...

Through an interplay between scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we show that bridging oxygen vacancies are the active nucleation sites for Au clusters on the rutile TiO2(110) surface. We find that a direct correlation exists between a decrease in density of vacancies and the amount of Au deposited. From the DFT calculations we find that the oxy...

Tm-doped TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized using a water-controlled hydrolysis reaction. Analysis was performed in order to determine the influence of the dopant concentration and annealing temperature on the phase, crystallinity, and electronic and optical properties of the resulting material. Various characterization techniques were utilized such as X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-...

Finding the active sites of catalysts and photo-catalysts is crucial for an improved fundamental understanding and the development of efficient catalytic systems. Here we have studied the photo-activated dehydrogenation of ethanol on reduced and oxidized rutile TiO2(110) in ultrahigh vacuum conditions. Utilizing scanning tunnelling microscopy, various spectroscopic techniques and theoretical ca...

We find that in a paramagnetic pyrene derivative of the nitronyl nitroxide radical deposited on rutile TiO2(110) single crystals the molecules keep/lose their paramagnetic character depending on the local substrate hydroxylation. The first molecular layer may act as a "buffer" on which intact organic magnets are grown.

The influence of surface charge of nanomaterials on toxicological effects is not yet fully understood. We investigated the inflammatory response, the acute phase response and the genotoxic effect of two different titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) following a single intratracheal instillation. NRCWE-001 was unmodified rutile TiO2 with endogenous negative surface charge, whereas NRCWE-002...

Surface defects are known to dominate both the electronic and chemical properties of metal oxide surfaces, an object of much study for use in catalytic processes. In order to study surface chemistry in detail, an ultra-high vacuum (UHV) chamber was designed to combine a LEED and STM system. Construction is underway, with a reported initial base pressure of 10−9 Torr revealing no major leaks. On...

In this paper, we have done the photodegradation of Methyl green dye in presence of prepared Ni0.10:La0.05:TiO2 nanocomposites. The nanocomposites of Ni0.10:La0.05:TiO2 was prepared by the solution impregnation method. The characterization of Synthesized TiO2 and Ni0.10:La0.05:TiO2 nanocomposites were done by X-Ray Diffractometer, SEM, TEM, UVVis, FT-IR, Band gap energy and BET. The photocataly...