Enhanced Bonding of Silver Nanoparticles on Oxidized TiO2(110)

The nucleation and growth of silver nanoclusters on TiO2(110) surfaces with on-top O adatoms (oxidized TiO2), surface O vacancies and H adatoms (reduced TiO2) have been studied. From the interplay of scanning tunneling microscopy/photoelectron spectroscopy experiments and density functional theory calculations, it is found that silver clusters are much more strongly bonded to oxidized TiO2(110) surfaces than to reduced TiO2(110) model supports. It is shown that electronic charge can be transferred from silver clusters to the oxidized TiO2(110) surface, as evidenced by the reappearance of the Ti3d defect state upon silver exposure. Furthermore, from both scanning tunneling microscopy data and density functional theory calculations the most favorable adsorption site of silver monomers on oxidized TiO2(110) is one that bridges between on-top O adatoms and regular surface O atoms nearby.