Introduction of tensile strain into titanium dioxide for increased solid acid catalytic activity

Strained metal oxides are known to exhibit improved activity for redox and photocatalytic reactions. Here, we intentionally introduced tensile strain into rutile-type TiO2 by utilizing the difference in thermal expansion coefficients between TiO2 and Au and applied it as a solid acid catalyst. It was demonstrated that its acid catalytic activity in the acetalization of furfural was enhanced by increasing the degree of the strain introduced.

Automated summary

The acid catalytic activity of strained rutile-type TiO2 can be enhanced by increasing the degree of applied strain.