Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) was used to
study illuminated TiO2 surfaces under both vacuum conditions, and in the presence of organic molecules
(decane and methanol). In the presence of hole scavengers, electrons are trapped at Ti(III)–OH sites,
and free electrons are generated. These free electrons are seen to decay by exposure either to oxygen or to
heat; in the case of heating, reinjection of holes into the lattice by loss of sorbed hole scavenger leads to a
decrease in Ti(III)–OH centers. Decane adsorption experiments lend support to the theory that removal of
surficial hydrocarbon contaminants is responsible for superhydrophilic TiO2 surfaces. Oxidation of decane led to a mixture of surface-bound organics, while oxidation of methanol leads to the formation of surface-bound formic acid
