Web Release Date: March 6,
Photocatalytic Induction of Nanobubbles on TiO2 Surfaces
and
Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Particulate Fluid Processing Center, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia, and Bio-X Life Science Research Center, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030 China
Received: December 18, 2007
In Final Form: February 20, 2008
Abstract:
In this work, we investigate the formation of nanobubbles on a surface coated with TiO2 in an aqueous
solution by in situ tapping-mode atomic force microscopy (TMAFM). The TiO2-coated surface can generate
hydrogen through photocatalytic reaction in methanol/water solution when ultraviolet (UV) light (wavelength
< 400 nm) is illuminated on the surface. We found that nanobubbles could be produced and existed at the
TiO2/water interface during the TiO2 photocatalytic process. By employing a combination of techniques,
including phase imaging and contact-mode imaging, we could confirm the gas origin of such observed
nanobubbles. In addition, the evolution process of nanobubbles at the TiO2/water interface has also been
monitored with time of the photocatalytic reaction.
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