[Press Release] Bridging Interfacial Water Structure and Reactivity in Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution at TiO2 Interfaces
Figure 1 Molecular structure–reactivity relationship of interfacial water on TiO2 photocatalysts. Schematic illustration of the combined infrared spectroscopy and real-time mass spectrometry approach used to characterize the molecular structure and photocatalytic reactivity of interfacial water on anatase TiO2. The study reveals that relatively weaker water–TiO2 interactions and more flexible hydrogen-bond networks are associated with higher reactivity of interfacial water toward photocatalytic H2 evolution.
Release Summary
Understanding how interfacial water governs photocatalytic hydrogen evolution is essential for rational photocatalyst design. Here, we directly characterize the adsorption state and hydrogen-bonding structure of interfacial water and correlate them with hydrogen evolution activity. We reveal that relatively weaker water–TiO2 interactions and more flexible hydrogen-bond networks favor higher interfacial water reactivity. These findings provide a molecular basis for engineering water–catalyst interfaces to enhance photocatalytic performance.
