Trap States in Reduced Colloidal Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Have Different Proton Stoichiometries.

ABSTRACT: Added electrons and holes in semiconducting (nano)materials typically occupy "trap states," which often determine their photophysical properties and chemical reactivity. However, trap states are usually ill-defined, with few insights into their stoichiometry or structure. Our laboratory previously reported that aqueous colloidal TiO₂ nanoparticles prepared from TiCl₄ + H₂O have two classes of electron trap states, termed Blue and Red. Herein, we show that the formation of Red from oxidized TiO₂ requires 1e ^- + 1H⁺, while Blue requires 1e ^- + 2H⁺. The two states are in a protic equilibrium, Blue ⇌ Red + H⁺, with K _eq = 2

SUBMITTER: Gentry NE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11672544 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature