Understanding and controlling TiO2 reactivity with anisotropic surface chemistry

在这个由化学学部大分子、超分子和纳米化学项目资助的项目中，康奈尔大学的Melissa A. Hines教授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。该项目将开发以溶液为基础的化学技术，用于在实验室环境中生产控制良好的锐钛矿表面，从表面去除生长导向剂，并制备干净、可再生的锐钛矿表面，适用于基于表面科学的化学和光化学反应性研究。通过将生长表面的原子尺度结构与生长溶液中控制形状的化学物质的数量或蚀刻溶液中表面去除化学物质的数量相关联，研究人员将获得控制锐钛矿表面生长和化学结构的表面位点特异性化学反应的定量理解。从本研究中获得的知识和技术将在技术相关条件下提供对锐钛矿表面的新理解，将导致生产高活性锐钛矿表面和纳米晶体的新化学反应的发展，并将为锐钛矿反应性的进一步表面科学研究提供平台。这项研究将使新兴可持续技术所需的纳米级表面的合理改进成为可能。该项目将开发基板、专业知识和必要的处理方案，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。该项目旨在通过针对K-12学生和他们的老师的各种活动，提高学生对科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM领域）的兴趣和成就。将特别注意增加历史上代表性不足的群体的参与，例如妇女和种族和族裔少数群体。

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.