Surface dehydroxylation of nanocrystalline TiO2

Surface properties of the nanostructured materials are essential in attaining particular functionality, which is why there are a plethora of surface modification methods applied during or past the synthesis of nanoparticular substrates. Depending on the resulting content of the surface it could be heterophase forming modifications or pristine titania modifications. In this communication, we study a novel approach to pristine titania surface alteration by controlled chemisorption of the stable water-soluble titanium complex on the nanocrystalline anatase. Following on-air calcination for removal of organic residues converts chemisorbed complexes into oxide phase increments. Such an approach retains crystallinity and specific surface with simultaneous withdrawal of surface hydroxyl groups.