Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations are combined for the first time in an effort to characterize the paramagnetic species present in N-doped anatase TiO2 powders obtained by sol-gel synthesis. The experimental hyperfine coupling constants are well reproduced by two structurally different nitrogen impurities: substitutional and interstitial N atoms in the TiO2 anatase matrix. DFT calculations show that the nitrogen impurities induce the formation of localized states in the band gap. Substitutional nitrogen states lie just above the valence band, while interstitial nitrogen states lie higher in the gap. Excitations from these localized states to the conduction band may account for the absorption edge shift toward lower energies (visible region) observed in the case of N-doped TiO2 with respect to pure TiO2 (UV region). Calculations also show that nitrogen doping leads to a substantial reduction of the energy cost to form oxygen vacancies in bulk TiO2. This suggests that nitrogen doping is likely to be accompanied by oxygen vacancy formation. Finally, we propose that the relative abundance of the two observed nitrogen-doping species depends on the preparation conditions, such as the oxygen concentration in the atmosphere and the annealing temperature during synthesis.

DI VALENTIN, C., Pacchioni, G., Selloni, A., Livraghi, S., Giamello, E. (2005). Characterization of paramagnetic species in N-doped TiO2 powders by EPR spectroscopy and DFT calculations. JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY. B, CONDENSED MATTER, MATERIALS, SURFACES, INTERFACES & BIOPHYSICAL, 109(23), 11414-11419 [10.1021/jp051756t].

Characterization of paramagnetic species in N-doped TiO2 powders by EPR spectroscopy and DFT calculations

DI VALENTIN, CRISTIANA;PACCHIONI, GIANFRANCO;
2005

Abstract

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations are combined for the first time in an effort to characterize the paramagnetic species present in N-doped anatase TiO2 powders obtained by sol-gel synthesis. The experimental hyperfine coupling constants are well reproduced by two structurally different nitrogen impurities: substitutional and interstitial N atoms in the TiO2 anatase matrix. DFT calculations show that the nitrogen impurities induce the formation of localized states in the band gap. Substitutional nitrogen states lie just above the valence band, while interstitial nitrogen states lie higher in the gap. Excitations from these localized states to the conduction band may account for the absorption edge shift toward lower energies (visible region) observed in the case of N-doped TiO2 with respect to pure TiO2 (UV region). Calculations also show that nitrogen doping leads to a substantial reduction of the energy cost to form oxygen vacancies in bulk TiO2. This suggests that nitrogen doping is likely to be accompanied by oxygen vacancy formation. Finally, we propose that the relative abundance of the two observed nitrogen-doping species depends on the preparation conditions, such as the oxygen concentration in the atmosphere and the annealing temperature during synthesis.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
ossidi, difetti, calcoli quantistici, EPR
English
16-giu-2005
109
23
11414
11419
none
DI VALENTIN, C., Pacchioni, G., Selloni, A., Livraghi, S., Giamello, E. (2005). Characterization of paramagnetic species in N-doped TiO2 powders by EPR spectroscopy and DFT calculations. JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY. B, CONDENSED MATTER, MATERIALS, SURFACES, INTERFACES & BIOPHYSICAL, 109(23), 11414-11419 [10.1021/jp051756t].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/1257
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