Crystal faces of rutile and anatase TiO2 particles and their roles in photocatalytic reactions

A titanium dioxide powder consisting of 1 μm size rutile and anatase particles was obtained, on which developed crystal faces were observed by a scanning electron microscope. From electron diffraction analyses, it was found that the rutile particles exposed {011} and {110} crystal faces, and the anatase particles exposed {001} and {011} faces. This powder showed high activity for some photocatalytic reactions, including oxidation of water. After photocatalytic oxidation of water on the powder using hexachloroplatinate(IV) ions as the electron acceptors, Pt deposits were observed mostly on the rutile particles, especially on the {110} face. When 2-propanol was added to the solution, Pt was deposited on both the…