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A Mechanism for the Photo-oxidizing Behaviour of Rutile Titanium Dioxide Pigment

Nature volume 198, pages 278–279 (1963)Cite this article

Abstract

THE ultra-violet induced discoloration of titanium dioxide pigment and the associated oxidation of the paint medium known as chalking are problems of considerable importance. Explanations of these phenomena have generally been based on the following model: ultra-violet irradiation releases two electrons from the oxygen ion in the titanium dioxide lattice1. The atomic oxygen so formed diffuses through the lattice and those atoms reaching the surface oxidize the surrounding medium. Electrons trapped at oxygen vacancies form colour centres with an absorption band centred at a wave-length of 1.8µ. The short wave-length tail of this band extends to the visible part of the spectrum resulting in the characteristic blue/grey discoloration of reduced rutile2.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bristol College of Science and Technology,

    A. G. VONDJIDIS & W. C. CLARK

Authors
  1. A. G. VONDJIDIS
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  2. W. C. CLARK
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VONDJIDIS, A., CLARK, W. A Mechanism for the Photo-oxidizing Behaviour of Rutile Titanium Dioxide Pigment. Nature 198, 278–279 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1038/198278a0

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