Unravelling the atomic structure of cross-linked (1 x 2) TiO2(110)
Autor(en): | Pieper, Hans Hermann Venkataramani, Krithika Torbruegge, Stefan Bahr, Stephan Lauritsen, Jeppe V. Besenbacher, Flemming Kuehnle, Angelika Reichling, Michael |
Stichwörter: | ADSORPTION; CAF2(111); Chemistry; Chemistry, Physical; DEFECTS; FORCE MICROSCOPY; Physics; Physics, Atomic, Molecular & Chemical; REDUCTION; SCANNING-TUNNELING-MICROSCOPY; STATE; STM; SURFACE-STRUCTURE; TITANIA | Erscheinungsdatum: | 2010 | Herausgeber: | ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY | Journal: | PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS | Volumen: | 12 | Ausgabe: | 39 | Startseite: | 12436 | Seitenende: | 12441 | Zusammenfassung: | The cross-linked (1 x 2) reconstruction of TiO2(110) is a frequently observed phase reflecting the surface structure of titania in a significantly reduced state. Here we resolve the atomic scale structure of the cross-linked (1 x 2) phase with dynamic scanning force microscopy operated in the non-contact mode (NC-AFM). From an analysis of the atomic-scale contrast patterns of the titanium and oxygen sub-structures obtained by imaging the surface with AFM tips having different tip apex termination, we infer the hitherto most accurate model of the atomic structure of the cross-linked (1 x 2) phase. Our findings suggest that the reconstruction is based on added rows in [001] direction built up of Ti3O6 units with an uninterrupted central string of oxygen atoms accompanied by a regular sequence of cross-links consisting of linear triples of additional oxygen atoms in between the rows. The new insight obtained from NC-AFM solves previous controversy about the cross-linked TiO2(110) surface structure, since previously proposed models based on cross-links with a lower O content do not appear to be consistent with the atom-resolved data presented here. Instead, our measurements strongly support the Ti3O6 motif to be the structural base of the cross-linked (1 x 2) reconstruction of TiO2(110). |
ISSN: | 14639076 | DOI: | 10.1039/c0cp00160k |
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