Hydrogen-free defects in hydrogenated black TiO2

Heechae Choi, Seong I. Moon, Teaseup Song*, Seungchul Kim

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Black anatase TiO2 has surprisingly enhanced solar energy harvesting efficiency and electrical conductivity, which makes it a promising material in a wide range of energy and environmental applications. Several experimental and theoretical studies have successfully revealed the mechanisms of band gap reduction by surface hydrogenation of anatase TiO2. However, recent experimental evidence suggests the existence of bulk point defects that yield infrared (∼1.0 eV) photoabsorption and high conductivity of black anatase TiO2. In the current study, using a combination of ab initio molecular dynamics simulations and electronic structure calculations, we successfully explain the physical properties, metallicity, and infrared/microwave absorption (i.e., black color) of highly reduced anatase TiO2 crystal in a hydrogenated state with a newly found pair defect (Tii-VO)4+. Hydrogen atoms in the bulk are unnecessary to understand the observed properties.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)19871-19876
Number of pages6
JournalPhysical Chemistry Chemical Physics
Volume20
Issue number30
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018
Externally publishedYes

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