Electron-Stimulated Oxidation of Thin Water Films Adsorbed on TiO2(110)
Electron-stimulated reactions in thin (< 3 monolayer, ML) water films adsorbed on TiO2(110) are investigated. For electron fluences less than ~1×1016 e-/cm2, irradiation with 100 eV electrons results in electron-stimulated desorption (ESD) of atomic and molecular hydrogen, but no measurable O2. The ESD leaves adsorbed hydroxyls which oxidize the TiO2(110) surface and change the post-irradiation TPD spectra of the remaining water in characteristic ways. The species remaining on the TiO2(110) after irradiation of adsorbed water films are apparently similar to those produced without irradiation by co-dosing water and O2. Annealing above ~600 K reduces the oxidized surfaces, and water TPD spectra characteristic of ion sputtered and annealed TiO2(110) are recovered. The rate of electron-stimulated “oxidation” of the water films is proportional to the coverage of water in the first layer for coverages less than 1 ML. However, higher coverages suppress this reaction. When thin water films are irradiated, the rate of electron-stimulated oxidation is independent of the initial oxygen vacancy concentration, as is the final oxidized state achieved at high electron fluences. To explain the results, we propose that electron excitation of water molecules adsorbed on Ti4+ sites leads to desorption of hydrogen atoms and leaves an OH adsorbed at the site. If hydroxyls are present in the bridging oxygen rows, these react with the OH’s on the Ti4+ sites to reform water and heal the oxygen vacancy associated with the bridging OH. Once the bridge bonded hydroxyls have been eliminated, further irradiation increases the concentration of OH’s in the Ti4+ rows leading to the creation of species which block sites in the Ti4+ rows, perhaps H2O2 and/or HO2.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US), Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 920958
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-54544; 24800; 18397; KC0301020
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 111(44):16319-16329, Journal Name: Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 111(44):16319-16329 Journal Issue: 44 Vol. 111
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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