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Updated: Dec 14, 2025
Quantitative Atomic-Site Analysis of Functional Dopants/Point Defects in Crystalline Materials by Electron-Channeling-Enhanced Microanalysis
Published on: May 10, 2021
Particles coming together: electron centers in adjoined TiO2 nanocrystals
Michael J Elser1, Thomas Berger, Doris Brandhuber
1Institute of Materials Chemistry, Vienna University of Technology, Veterinärplatz 1/GA, A-1210 Vienna, Austria.
Abstract:
To include particle attachment and porosity of nanostructured materials in the discussion of their electronic properties is critical to our understanding of charge transfer across grain boundaries. We report the condensation of isolated TiO(2) nanocrystals via the application of a simple hydration-dehydration cycle. After contact with water and subsequent removal of adsorbed water, these nanocrystals form a mesoporous structure with altered properties as compared with the original material: first, the energy needed for defect formation is substantially reduced, and second, electron paramagnetic resonance measurements reveal the presence of polarizable conduction band electrons not detectable in samples which have not been in contact with water.
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