May 5, 2024

Photocatalysis Evaluation: Proton Transfer Between Titania Surface and Dye Observed

When the titania and the color adsorbed on its surface are irradiated with a femtosecond pulsed laser proton transfer from the dye particles to the titania surface area, the fluorescence of the deprotonated color is observed. Credit: Reprinted with permission from J. Phys. Chem. C, 2021, 125, 40. 21803-22396 (Supplementary Cover). Copyright 2021 American Chemical Society.
A temporal change in the titania surface area chemical state throughout the UV light irradiation is not observable through standard methods such as routine FTIR or Raman spectroscopy. Therefore, a team led by Professor Hiromasa Nishikiori of Shinshu Universitys RISM observed this reaction through time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The group noted the monoanion transformation to the dianion (deprotonated types) of fluorescein “in the fired up states” where the proton transfers from the fluorescein dye to the titania surface during the UV irradiation, which was not formerly developed by transient absorption spectroscopy.
Fluorescein, an organic dye conscious light and acidity/basicity was adsorbed on the surface area of the titania as a probe molecule. The group utilized a time-resolved surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy with a femtosecond pulsed laser. By utilizing femtosecond pulsed laser SPR spectroscopy, the group was able to indirectly observe the proton transfer process from the color to the titania surface area and proved the development of basic hydroxyl groups.
When the titania surface area and the dye adsorbed on its surface area are irradiated with ultraviolet light, the proton transfer occurs from the ecstatic states of the dye particles to the titania surface where standard hydroxyl groups are generated and fluorescence is observed from the excited states of the deprotonated dye. C, 2021, 125, 40. Copyright 2021 American Chemical Society.
Observation through the UV irradiation time revealed that the surface area became more standard with OH groups on the surface of the titania which accepts the protons from the fluorescein monoanion. Time-resolved fluorescence probe observation utilizing organic dyes that are delicate to light and acidity/basicity is a really efficient approach for observing small light-induced behaviors (proton transfer procedures) that occur on solid surface areas in an extremely brief time.

The scientists succeeded in observing the dianion and monoanion ratio of the fluorescein through the establishment of the SPR spectroscopy technique. Teacher Nishikiori wishes to continue to add to advances in hydrogen production with photocatalytic water splitting with the establishment of this simple approach that enables scientists to observe and assess the activity of the photocatalysis.
Reference: “Observation of Excited State Proton Transfer in between the Titania Surface and Dye Molecule by Time-Resolved Fluorescence Spectroscopy” by Hiromasa Nishikiori, Yosuke Kageshima, Nasrin Hooshmand, Mostafa A. El-Sayed and Katsuya Teshima, 30 September 2021, The Journal of Physical Chemistry C.DOI: 10.1021/ acs.jpcc.1 c05843.

When the titania and the dye adsorbed on its surface area are irradiated with a femtosecond pulsed laser proton transfer from the color molecules to the titania surface, the fluorescence of the deprotonated color is observed. The group kept in mind the monoanion improvement to the dianion (deprotonated types) of fluorescein “in the ecstatic states” where the proton transfers from the fluorescein color to the titania surface area during the UV irradiation, which was not formerly developed by short-term absorption spectroscopy.
By using femtosecond pulsed laser SPR spectroscopy, the group was able to indirectly observe the proton transfer procedure from the color to the titania surface and showed the development of basic hydroxyl groups.
When the titania surface and the color adsorbed on its surface are irradiated with ultraviolet light, the proton transfer takes place from the thrilled states of the dye molecules to the titania surface area where fundamental hydroxyl groups are produced and fluorescence is observed from the excited states of the deprotonated color.