Apparent semiconductor type reversal in anatase TiO₂ nanocrystalline films

The electronic properties of anatase and rutile TiO₂ polycrystalline particle films have been studied using surface photovoltage (SPV) and infrared (IR) spectroscopies. The films were prepared from aqueous suspensions using a range of particle sizes (8-400 nm) and were examined under different ambient conditions. The results show that all of the examined films exhibited the expected n-type semiconductor characteristics in dry nitrogen ambient. Films created from the 30 and 400 nm anatase particles exhibited the largest surface photovoltage and also a broad mid-IR absorption attributed to shallowly trapped electrons. The latter was absent from films made from rutile particles. When examined under as-prepared "wet" conditions, the SPV was reduced in magnitude and the IR signal was absent. Further, the films formed from 8 and 30 nm particles exhibited an apparent p-type behavior in their SPV spectra. Interestingly, small anatase particles are known to exhibit enhanced photocatalytic activity when compared to larger anatase particles. These correlations indicate that water, adsorbed on TiO₂ particles of nanodimensions, induce surface states and enable redistribution of photogenerated charge carriers, which is conducive to photocatalysis.