Modulating the photocatalytic redox preferences between anatase TiO2 {001} and {101} surfaces

Abstract

It is widely believed that anatase TiO₂ {001} and {101} surfaces acts as the oxidative and reductive sites in photocatalytic reactions, respectively, which is attributed to their different intrinsic surface structures. However, we demonstrate that the photocatalytic redox preferences of TiO₂ {001} and {101} surfaces are determined by the adsorbate-reconstructed surface structure instead of their intrinsic surface structures, which can be modulated by surface protonation/deprotonation.