Photocatalysis by TiO2 semiconductors has received much attention since the pioneering discovery of the effect of photosensitization of TiO2 electrodes on the electrolysis of water into H2 and O2 by Honda and Fujishima in 1972.  These studies have been motivated by the push to convert naturally abundant H2O to clean H2 as an alternative, sustainable non-carbon fuel. Although much technological progress has been achieved in recent years in the discovery of advanced photocatalytic materials, the progress in the fundamental scientific understanding, especially on surface information and photocatalytic reaction mechanism, of such photocatalysts has significantly lagged behind.  To help address these unresolved fundamental issues surrounding titania photocatalysis in the literature, a series of model nano-sized supported TiO2/SiO2 catalysts were extensively characterized (Raman, ATR-IR, UV-vis, PL, and time-resolved PL spectroscopy) to develop fundamental structure/photoactivity relationships for the model catalysts.

Determination of a structure-photoactivity relationship for water splitting on well-defined TiO<sub>x</sub> nanodomains

245th National Meeting (2013)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.

Determination of a structure-photoactivity relationship for water splitting on well-defined TiOx nanodomains

Determination of a structure-photoactivity relationship for water splitting on well-defined TiO_x nanodomains