TiO₂(110) Charge Donation to an Extended π‑Conjugated Molecule

Abstract

The surface reduction of rutile TiO₂(110) generates a state in the band gap whose excess electrons are spread among multiple sites, making the surface conductive and reactive. The charge extraction, hence the surface catalytic properties, depends critically on the spatial extent of the charge redistribution, which has been hitherto probed by small molecules that recombine at oxygen vacancy (O_vac) sites. We demonstrate by valence band resonant photoemission (RESPES) a very general charge extraction mechanism from a reduced TiO₂(110) surface to an extended electron-acceptor organic molecule. Perylene-tetra-carboxylic-diimide (PTCDI) is not trapped at O_vac sites and forms a closely packed, planar layer on TiO₂(110). In this configuration, the perylene core spills out the substrate excess electrons, filling the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO). The charge transfer from the reduced surface to an extended π-conjugated system demonstrates the universality of the injection/extraction mechanism, opening new perspectives for the coupling of reducible oxides to organic semiconductors and supported catalysts