Behavior of Li2TiO3 under varied surface condition

Surface variation of Li2TiO3 induced by Ar+ sputtering, heating, or water vapor exposure was analyzed using X-ray/ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS/UPS). For a near-stoichiometric oxide composition, such as that produced by Ar+ sputtering and annealing at 673 K, little or no adsorption of hydroxyl groups (−OH) occurred by 5 × 10−3 Pa H2O exposure. Conversely, dissociative (−OH) adsorption was observed for reduced surface created by Ar+ sputtering via selective sputtering of Li and O. The surface nature of Li2TiO3 showed analogous behavior with that of TiO2 rather than Li2O.