Time-resolved photoluminescence unlocks nanoscale insights into surface-modified metal oxide semiconductors

In the quest for next-generation energy, sensing, and pigment technologies, semiconducting metal oxides like titanium dioxide (TiO₂) have emerged as essential materials due to their abundance, stability, and intriguing photophysical properties. But there’s a catch: Their surfaces—where most chemical interactions occur—often behave unpredictably, limiting their performance in applications ranging from photocatalysis to solar energy harvesting. In the quest for next-generation energy, sensing, and pigment technologies, semiconducting metal oxides like titanium dioxide (TiO₂) have emerged as essential materials due to their abundance, stability, and intriguing photophysical properties. But there’s a catch: Their surfaces—where most chemical interactions occur—often behave unpredictably, limiting their performance in applications ranging from photocatalysis to solar energy harvesting. Nanophysics Nanomaterials Phys.org – latest science and technology news stories