Atomic Level in situ Observation of Surface Amorphization in Anatase Photocatalyst During Light Irradiation in Water Vapor

An in situ atomic level investigation of the surface structure of anatase nanocrystals has been conducted under conditions relevant to photocatalytic splitting of water. When the titania is exposed to light and water vapor, the initially crystalline surface converts to amorphous monolayers which are heavily hydroxylated.