Electron paramagnetic resonance was used to identify photo-induced titaniumassociated
electron traps in TiO2 crystals (rutile). Defect production occurred at
low temperature with 442nm laser light. Spectra with S = 1/2 and S = 1 were
assigned to singly ionized and neutral oxygen vacancies, respectively. These
oxygen vacancies have their unpaired spins localized on the two neighbouring
titanium ions aligned along the c axis. A Ti3+ ion next to a Si4+ ion, a Ti3+ selftrapped
electron, and a self-trapped hole shared by two adjacent oxygen ions were
also observed. Isolated substitutional Fe3+ and Cr3+ ions serve as hole traps.
Photo-Induced Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Study of Electron Traps in TiO2
Crystals: Oxygen Vacancies and Ti3+ Ions. S.Yang, L.E.Halliburton,
A.Manivannan, P.H.Bunton, D.B.Baker, M.Klemm, S.Horn, A.Fujishima: Applied
Physics Letters, 2009, 94[16], 162114