Thermally-driven processes on rutile TiO2(1 1 0)-(1 × 1): A direct view at the atomic scale

The technological importance of TiO2 has led to a broad effort aimed at understanding the elementary steps that underlie catalytic and photocatalytic reactions. The most stable surface, rutile TiO2(1 1 0), in particular, has became a prototypical model for fundamental studies of TiO2. In this critical review we have selected oxygen, water, and alcohols to evaluate recent progress relevant for applications in the areas of water splitting and oxidation of organic contaminants. We first focus on the characterization of defects and the distribution of excess charge that results from their formation. The subsequent section concentrates on the role of individual surface sites and the effect of available charge in the adsorption processes. The discussion of adsorbate dynamics follows, providing models for intrinsic and extrinsic diffusion processes as well as rotational dynamics of anchored alkoxy species. The final section summarizes our current understanding of TiO2(1 1 0) catalyzed reactions between water, oxygen, and their dissociation products.