Laser flash photolysis of titanium dioxide suspensions for the evaluation of solvent-mediated radical reactions

The chemistry originating from the scavenging of the highly electrophilic hole in TiO2 can be readily monitored using laser flash photolysis techniques. Dilute suspensions are sufficiently transparent in the UV region that long lived signals from reactions of solvent radicals with 1,1-diphenylethylene can be readily monitored. Transient signals originating from hole, electron and trapped radicals are extremely long lived showing stretched exponentials (nanoseconds to milliseconds), adequately described by fractal models.

Automated summary

The chemistry resulting from the scavenging of hole in TiO2 can be easily observed using laser flash photolysis techniques. The transparent nature of dilute suspensions in the UV region allows for the monitoring of long-lived signals from reactions with solvent radicals. Transient signals from hole, electron, and trapped radicals exhibit stretched exponentials (nanoseconds to milliseconds) and can be well described by fractal models.