Neutron beam interaction with rutile TiO2 single crystal (1 1 1): Raman and XPS study on Ti3+-oxygen vacancy formation

Abstract Influence of the interaction between neutron and TiO2 surface is studied for the first time. By knowing the mechanism of this interaction, it could be useful to understand the possibility of the formation of Ti3+ and oxygen vacancy (Vo) surface defect. Raman spectroscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) were used for surface defect characterization analysis. According to XPS analysis, it shows that binding energy is shifted about 0.05 eV toward higher binding energy. The formation of Ti3+ and Vo defect is depending on the irradiation time which explained that longer irradiation time would give more time to neutron-electron interaction, thus enhanced the defect development on TiO2 thin film.