Isotropic photo-decomposition of spherical organic polymers on rutile TiO2(110) surfaces

We observed the photo-decomposition process of polystyrene latex (PSL) spheres on a rutile TiO₂(110) single crystal surface by using atomic force microscopy. During the decomposition process, both the height and width of the PSL spheres linearly decreased with the irradiation time in a similar way from the beginning, suggesting that the PSL spheres are isotropically decomposed. This indicates that the interface between the PSL spheres and the TiO₂ surface is not a dominant reaction site, as expected from normal photocatalytic reactions.