Surface phases of TiO2 nanoparticles studied by UV Raman spectroscopy and FT-IR spectroscopy

Surface phases of TiO2 nanoparticles (30 similar to 200 nm) were studied by UV Raman spectroscopy and FT-IR spectroscopy with CO and CO2 as probe molecules. UV Raman spectroscopy can differentiate the surface phase structure of TiO2 calcined at different temperatures. IR spectra of adsorbed CO and CO2 on TiO2 calcined at different temperatures are in good agreement with the results from UV Raman spectra. IR results evidently confirm that UV Raman spectroscopy is a surface-sensitive technique for TiO2. Both UV Raman and IR spectra indicate that the crystalline phase of TiO2 in the surface region is usually different from that in the bulk which is characterized by XRD. CO is weakly adsorbed on Till ions of anatase phase but is hardly adsorbed on those of rutile phase at room temperature. Adsorbed CO2 on anatase phase produces mainly bidentate carbonate, while on rutile phase produces mainly bicarbonate species. These results suggest that the surface Lewis acidity of anatase phase is stronger than that of rutile phase, and the concentration of cus Ti4+-O2- pairs on the surface of anatase phase is much higher than that on rutile phase; however, the basicity of surface OH groups of rutile phase is stronger than that of anatase phase.