High-temperature scanning tunnelling microscopy was used to study the reactivity and surface structure of the (1 x 2) reconstructed (110) surface. Two distinctly different ordered surface reconstructions were found; depending upon the degree of non-stoichiometry. On the near-stoichiometric surface, the reactivity to O was low and was attributed to the formation of a stable Ti2O3-type termination. In heavily reduced crystals, a cross-linked (1 x 2) reconstruction formed; with a high reactivity to O. This resulted in a well-defined cyclic reaction (TiO2 growth).

Two (1 x 2) Reconstructions of TiO2(110): Surface Rearrangement and Reactivity Studied using Elevated Temperature Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy. Bennett, R.A., Stone, P., Price, N.J., Bowker, M.: Physical Review Letters, 1999, 82[19], 3831-4