Increasing the optical response of TiO and extending it into the visible region through surface activation with highly stable Cu clusters.

The decoration of semiconductors with subnanometer-sized clusters of metal atoms can have a strong impact on the optical properties of the support. The changes induced differ greatly from effects known for their well-studied, metallic counterparts in the nanometer range. In this work, we study the deposition of Cu clusters on a TiO surface and investigate their influence on the photon-absorption properties of TiO nanoparticles the computational modeling of a decorated rutile TiO (110) surface. Our findings are further supported by selected experiments using diffuse reflectance and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The Cu cluster donates an electron to TiO, leading to the formation of a small polaron Ti 3d state and depopulation of Cu(3d) orbitals, successfully explaining the absorption spectroscopy measurements at the K-edge of copper. A monolayer of highly stable and well fixated Cu clusters is formed, which not only enhances the overall absorption, but also extends the absorption profile into the visible region of the solar spectrum direct photo-induced electron transfer and formation of a charge-separated state.