Understanding and controlling TiO2 reactivity with anisotropic surface chemistry

本研究由化学系高分子、超分子及奈米化学计画所资助。康奈尔大学的Hines和她的学生将使用基于溶液的化学反应和表面科学技术来创建，理解和控制高反应性二氧化钛表面在技术相关环境中的性能，包括空气和溶液。该项目将开发基于溶液的化学技术，用于在实验室环境中生产控制良好的生物表面，用于从表面去除生长导向剂，并用于制备适合于基于表面科学的化学和光化学反应性研究的清洁，可再生的生物表面。通过将生长表面的原子尺度结构与生长溶液中形状控制化学物质的量或蚀刻溶液中表面去除化学物质的量相关联，研究人员将获得对控制生长和化学结构的表面特定化学反应的定量理解。从这项研究中获得的知识和技术将提供在技术相关条件下对纳米表面的新理解，将导致开发用于生产高反应性纳米表面和纳米晶体的新化学反应，并将为进一步研究纳米反应性的表面科学提供平台。这项研究将使新兴可持续技术所需的纳米表面的合理改进成为可能。该项目将开发必要的基板，专业知识和处理协议，以了解和控制高反应性表面在技术相关条件下的性能，包括空气和溶液。通过整合研究和教育，该项目将在国家需要的领域培养博士后，研究生和本科生。该项目预计将通过针对K-12学生及其教师的各种活动，提高学生对科学，技术，工程和数学（STEM领域）的兴趣和成就。将特别注意增加妇女、少数种族和族裔等历来代表性不足的群体的参与。

In this project, funded by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry Program of the Chemistry Division, Prof. Melissa A. Hines of Cornell University and her students will use solution-based chemical reactions and surface science techniques to create, understand, and control the performance of high-reactivity titanium dioxide surfaces in technologically relevant environments, including air and solution. This project will develop solution-based chemical techniques for producing well-controlled anatase surfaces in a laboratory environment, for removing growth-directing agents from the surfaces, and for preparing clean, reproducible anatase surfaces suitable for surface-science-based studies of chemical and photochemical reactivity. By correlating the atomic-scale structure of the grown surfaces with the amount of shape-controlling chemicals in the growth solution or the amount of surface-removing chemicals in the etching solution, researchers will obtain quantitative understanding of the surface-site-specific chemical reactions that control the growth and chemical structure of anatase surfaces. The knowledge and techniques garnered from this study will provide new understanding of anatase surfaces under technologically relevant conditions, will lead to the development of new chemical reactions for the production of high-reactivity anatase surfaces and nanocrystals, and will produce a platform for further surface-science studies of anatase reactivity.This study will enable the rational improvement of nanoscale surfaces necessary for emerging sustainable technologies. The project will develop the substrates, the expertise, and the processing protocols necessary for understanding and controlling the performance of high-reactivity surfaces under technologically relevant conditions, including air and solution. By integrating research and education, this project will train postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate students in areas of national need. The project is expected to increase student interest and achievement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM fields) through a variety of activities targeting K-12 students and their teachers. Particular attention will be placed on increasing the involvement of historically underrepresented groups, such as women and racial and ethnic minorities.