Surface chemistry and nonadecanoic acid adsorbate layers on TiO2(100) surfaces prepared at ambient conditions

The surface and adsorbate chemistry of the TiO2(100) surface prepared at high temperatures and ambient conditions were studied by means of angle resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AR-XPS), Low Energy Electron Diffraction (LEED) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) based nanoshaving studies. The TiO2(100) surface shows a 1 × 1 structure with a 1 × 3 superstructure assigned to surface defects. A significant hydroxide surface concentration was revealed by means of AR-XPS measurements. The adsorbate formation of nonadecanoic acid (NDCA) from ethanolic solution led to disordered sub-monolayer surface coverage. The weak interaction between the carboxylic acid group and the TiO2 surface is assumed to be a combination of the neutral to acid behavior of the TiO2 surface and the stable hydroxide surface layer created under ambient conditions.