Influence of electron-beam treatment of TiO₂/Ti on properties of deposited Pt films

Synchrotron-radiation-based photoemission spectroscopy was used to examine the changes in the TiO₂ surface structures as a result of high-energy e-beam exposure (under atmospheric pressure). The influence of the e-beam pre-treatment on the surface structure of post-deposited Pt on TiO₂ and the CO oxidation activity of the Pt films were also investigated. Different types of defect sites (oxygen vacancies, OH-groups) on TiO₂ created under different e-beam exposure conditions are suggested to either enhance or reduce the metal - support interface reaction, which influences structure and the catalytic activity of post-deposited Pt films. High-energy e-beam under atmospheric pressure can be used for the modification of metal-support interactions, which can improve activity of a catalyst.