Surface modification of TiO₂ with copper clusters for band gap narrowing

Surface modification of photocatalytic materials to give better activity and potentially extending the response into the visible spectrum, is an area of active research. In this work, DFT modelling suggests that surface modification of rutile and anatase TiO₂ with partially oxidised copper clusters can induce a red shift in the photo-action spectrum. Copper clusters were synthesised and characterised separately before TiO₂ nanoparticle surface modification. Characterisation of copper clusters and photocatalysts modified with copper clusters showed that ex-situ synthesis can control the size of surface clusters. Sub-nanometre clusters of copper maintained their size and morphology upon attachment to the photocatalyst surface. The copper clusters were determined to be a mixture of Cu(0) and Cu(I), and no significant change in the oxidation state was observed following surface modification or following photoelectrochemical measurements. Experimental measurements including UV–Vis spectroscopy and valence band XPS showed a small red shift the band gap correlating to the DFT predictions. Photoelectrochemical characterisation showed an enhancement in the UV photocurrent response and a small red shift in the effective band gap for the surface modified TiO₂.