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Title: The crystal facet-dependent electrochemical performance of TiO2 nanocrystals for heavy metal detection: Theoretical prediction and experimental proof

Journal Article · · Sensors and Actuators. B, Chemical
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [1]
  1. Hainan Univ., Haikou (China)
  2. Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)

Tailored design/fabrication of electroanalytical materials with highly-active exposed crystal planes is of great importance for the development of electrochemical sensing. In this work, combining experimental and theoretical efforts, we reported a facile strategy to fabricate TiO2 nanocrystals with tunable electrochemical performance for heavy metal detection. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicated that TiO2 (001) facet showed relative larger adsorption energy and lower diffusion energy barrier toward heavy metal ions, which is favorable for obtaining better electrochemical stripping behaviors. Based on this prediction, a series of TiO2 nanocrystals with different ratios of exposed (001) and (101) facets were synthesized. Electrochemical stripping experiments further demonstrated that with the increase of the percentage of exposed (001) facet, the sensitivity toward Pb(II) and Cd(II) was increased accordingly. When the percentage of exposed (001) facet was increased from 7% to 80%, the sensitivity increased by 190% and 93% for Pb(II) and Cd(II), respectively. In conclusion, our work provides an effective route to construct advanced electroanalytical materials for sensing.

Research Organization:
Ames Laboratory (AMES), Ames, IA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-07CH11358
OSTI ID:
1460403
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1591684
Report Number(s):
IS-J-9705; PII: S0925400518309699
Journal Information:
Sensors and Actuators. B, Chemical, Vol. 271, Issue C; ISSN 0925-4005
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 26 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science