On July 31, China University of Science and Technology announced groundbreaking findings from a single-molecule study. Researchers at the Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale Laboratory, Prof. Wang Bing and Zhao Biao, have successfully uncovered the microscopic mechanism behind photocatalytic reactions on titanium dioxide surfaces. Their experimental results offer new insights that could significantly enhance the catalytic performance of titanium dioxide. These discoveries are expected to greatly benefit future research in energy conversion and environmental applications. The study was published on July 30 in *Nature Communications*, one of the most respected scientific journals in the world.
Titanium dioxide, commonly known as TiOâ‚‚, is renowned as the whitest material on Earth. It plays a crucial role in solar energy conversion and holds great promise in areas such as water photolysis for hydrogen production and artificial photosynthesis. As a result, it has become a central focus in global research on next-generation energy materials. Scientists around the world are actively seeking better catalytic materials and more efficient energy conversion mechanisms, making this field a key area of exploration in material science.
Traditionally, titanium dioxide exists in two main forms: anatase and rutile. While rutile is more stable with fewer defects, it exhibits lower photocatalytic activity, which has been the focus of previous studies. In contrast, Prof. Wang Bing and his team used pulsed laser deposition to create high-quality anatase single-crystal thin films. By employing scanning tunneling microscopy and atomic manipulation techniques, they were able to clearly visualize the surface structure and active sites. Combined with theoretical calculations led by Prof. Chao Zhao, they proposed a new surface model that resolves long-standing debates about the relationship between surface defects and chemical reactivity.
Their findings revealed that the anatase surface is fully oxidized, correcting earlier assumptions of partial oxidation. Moreover, the presence of oxygen vacancies on the surface leads to exposed titanium atoms, which show enhanced reactivity. This discovery provides critical information for improving the efficiency of titanium dioxide-based catalysts and opens up new possibilities for sustainable energy technologies. (Gui Yunan)
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