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Updated: Aug 12, 2025

Probing the Structure and Dynamics of Interfacial Water with Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Spectroscopy
Published on: May 27, 2018
Single hydrogen atom manipulation for reversible deprotonation of water on a rutile TiO2 (110) surface
Yuuki Adachi1, Hongqian Sang2, Yasuhiro Sugawara1
1Department of Applied Physics, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
Abstract:
The discovery of hydrogen atoms on the TiO2 surface is crucial for many practical applications, including photocatalytic water splitting. Electronically activating interfacial hydrogen atoms on the TiO2 surface is a common way to control their reactivity. Modulating the potential landscape is another way, but dedicated studies for such an activation are limited. Here we show the single hydrogen atom manipulation, and on-surface facilitated water deprotonation process on a rutile TiO2 (110) surface using low temperature atomic force microscopy and Kelvin probe force spectroscopy. The configuration of the hydrogen atom is manipulated on this surface step by step using the local field. Furthermore, we quantify the force needed to relocate the hydrogen atom on this surface using force spectroscopy and density functional theory. Reliable control of hydrogen atoms provides a new mechanistic insight of the water molecules on a metal oxide surface.
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