Neutron beam interaction with rutile TiO2 single crystal (1 1 1): Raman and XPS study on Ti3+-oxygen vacancy formation

• Published in: Materials letters Vol. 263; p. 127143
• Main Authors: Abdullah, Siti Ashraf, Sahdan, Mohd Zainizan, Nayan, Nafarizal, Embong, Zaidi, Hak, Cik Rohaida Che, Adriyanto, Feri
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15-03-2020; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Beam interactions; Binding energy; Defects; Irradiation; Lattice vacancies; Materials science; Nanomaterials; Neutron beam; Neutron beams; Neutrons; Photocatalyst; Photoelectrons; Raman spectroscopy; Single crystals; Spectrum analysis; Surface defect; Surface defects; Thin films; TiO2; Titanium dioxide; Vacancies; X ray photoelectron spectroscopy; Nanomaterials; Neutron beam; Surface defect; Photocatalyst; TiO2
• ISSN: 0167-577X; 1873-4979
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2019.127143

•There is interaction between neutron and electron phenomenon.•Increase radiation time give longer interaction of neutron-electron.•Concentration of Ti3+ and Vo increase by increasing the radiation time.•Defect development can be create by neutron beam treatment.•Orbital shifted toward nucleus phenomenon has been discovered.
Influence of the interaction between neutron and TiO2 surface is studied for the first time. By knowing the mechanism of this interaction, it could be useful to understand the possibility of the formation of Ti3+ and oxygen vacancy (Vo) surface defect. Raman spectroscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) were used for surface defect characterization analysis. According to XPS analysis, it shows that binding energy is shifted about 0.05 eV toward higher binding energy. The formation of Ti3+ and Vo defect is depending on the irradiation time which explained that longer irradiation time would give more time to neutron-electron interaction, thus enhanced the defect development on TiO2 thin film.