Defect generation, d-d transition, and band gap reduction in Cu-doped TiO2 nanoparticles

TiO2 doped with Cu2+ initiates the formation of brookite phase along with anatase. Doping of Cu2+ introduces structural defects into TiO2. The direct evidence is the low intense and broad diffraction peaks. Raman peaks of doped TiO2 are also broad and are blueshifted. Pure TiO2 exhibits an absorption in the UV region, the position of which is shifted towards the visible region on incorporation of Cu into it. The visible absorption peaks arise due to the d-d transition of Cu2+ in the crystalline environment of TiO2. Incorporation of Cu2+ distorts the local structure of TiO2, resulting in the loss of octahedral symmetry surrounding Cu2+. The Jahn-Teller distortion splits the 2Eg and 2T2g state of Cu2+ into several d states. Interaction of light excites the electron from ground to several of the excited states and gives the visible absorption peaks in the framework of TiO2. These Cu2+d states and oxygen defects create band states, thereby favoring electronic transition to these levels and resulting in lowering of band gap of TiO2. A direct confirmation is the increase in the magnitude of Urbach energy with the reduction in the band gap of doped TiO2.