Density functional theory investigation of TiO2 anatase nanosheets

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Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Fen Edebiyat Fakültesi, Fizik Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2009

Öğrenci: CEREN SİBEL SAYIN

Danışman: HANDE TOFFOLİ

Özet:

In this thesis, the electronic properties of nanosheets derived from TiO2 anatase structure which acts as a photocatalyst, are investigated using the density functional theory. We examine bulk constrained properties of the nanosheets derived from the (001) surface and obtain their optimized geometries. We investigate properties of lepidocrocite-type TiO2 nanosheets and nanotubes of different sizes formed by rolling the lepidocrocite nanosheets. We show that the stability and the band gaps of the considered nanotubes increase with increasing diameter. We also study adsorption of Aun clusters with (n=1,2,3,4) on the clean and oxygen depleted lepidocrocite surface. Through systematic investigation of various cases we conclude that Au preferres O vacancy sites rather than clean surface in accordance with previous metal adsorption studies on TiO2 surfaces. For the clean surface, we observe that Au clusters with an odd number of atoms are weakly bonded and metallizes the system while even number of Au atoms results in small band gap semiconductors with relatively higher binding energies.