Crystal faces of rutile and anatase TiO2 particles and their roles in photocatalytic reactions

TLDR

A 1 µm titanium dioxide powder containing rutile and anatase particles was prepared and its crystal faces were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Electron diffraction revealed rutile {011}/{110} and anatase {001}/{011} faces; the powder exhibited strong photocatalytic activity, with Pt preferentially depositing on rutile {110} (and on both faces when 2‑propanol was added) and PbO₂ forming mainly on rutile {011} and anatase {001}, demonstrating that crystal faces enhance electron–hole separation, more so for rutile than for anatase.

Abstract

A titanium dioxide powder consisting of 1 μm size rutile and anatase particles was obtained, on which developed crystal faces were observed by a scanning electron microscope. From electron diffraction analyses, it was found that the rutile particles exposed {011} and {110} crystal faces, and the anatase particles exposed {001} and {011} faces. This powder showed high activity for some photocatalytic reactions, including oxidation of water. After photocatalytic oxidation of water on the powder using hexachloroplatinate(IV) ions as the electron acceptors, Pt deposits were observed mostly on the rutile particles, especially on the {110} face. When 2-propanol was added to the solution, Pt was deposited on both the anatase and rutile particles. Using the thus prepared Pt-deposited TiO2 powder, Pb2+ ions were photocatalytically oxidized into PbO2. After this reaction, PbO2 deposits were seen on the {011} face of the rutile particles. On the anatase particles, PbO2 deposits were observed in a larger amount on the {001} face than on the {011} face. These results indicate that the crystal faces help in the separation of electrons and holes, and that this effect is stronger for the rutile particles than for the anatase particles.