Modification to the Surface Properties of Titania by Addition of India

Preparation of india-titania mixed oxide via sol-gel procedures leads to the formation of high surface area materials in which the india is highly dispersed throughout the parent oxide. Although the resultant mixed oxide did not exhibit textural properties which are significantly different from a sol-gel-derived single oxide titania, the surface properties and adsorptive characteristics were notably altered. In particular, the modified oxide exhibited greater propensity to adsorb water, with a portion being dissociatively adsorbed, possibly facilitated by the much greater interaction observed for the modified oxide (favored by an enhanced acidity of the surface caused by the presence of india). Water was able to displace carbon dioxide adsorbed as carbonate from the mixed-oxide surface. Results are also discussed in terms of the potential use of this material as a support for gold catalysts.