Single-molecule observation of photocatalytic reaction in TiO2 nanotube: importance of molecular transport through porous structures.
We have investigated the photocatalytic activity of individual porous TiO(2) nanotubes by the single-molecule counting of (*)OH using a specific fluorescent probe. The time- and space-resolved observation of emissive fluorescein generated by the photocatalytic reaction clearly reveals the importance of the transport behavior of reagents through the porous structures on the photocatalytic activity and the existence of the spatial heterogeneity of reactive sites even in an isolated TiO(2) nanotube. An experiment on a single nanotube provided information that was useful for elucidating the reaction mechanism of the heterogeneous (photo)catalyst and for designing advanced porous materials.
Naito
Kazuya
K
The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (SANKEN), Osaka University, Mihogaoka 8-1, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan.
Tachikawa
Takashi
T
Fujitsuka
Mamoru
M
Majima
Tetsuro
T