Photodeposition of metal and metal oxide at the TiOx nanosheet to observe the photocatalytic active site

Photodeposition of Ag, Cu, Cu2O, and MnO2 at a TiOx nanosheet with a lepidocrocite-type structum. prepared from K0.8Ti1.73Li0.27O4 was carried out to observe the active sites for the photocatalytic reaction (luring UV illumination. Photodepositions of Ag, Cu, and Cu2O, that is, photoreduction, occurred mainly at edges in the lateral direction of the nanosheet, indicating that the photoproduced electron moves in the network of Ti4+ ions in the nanosheet. On the other hand, photodeposition of MnO2, that is, photooxidation, occurred on all over the surface of the nanosheet, indicating that the photoproduced hole exists at the O2- ion of the nanosheet surface.