Photoluminescence and Optical Absorption of Pure Nanocrystalline TiO2 Anatase and Rutile at Room Temperature

The optical absorption and photoluminescence of nanocrystalline TiO2 samples of anatase and rutile were investigated at room temperature. Nanocrystalline TiO2 samples were synthesized in the form of pure anatase or rutile and studied by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, Raman spectroscopy, optical absorption and photoluminescence (PL). PL was studied at room temperature when excited by intense UV (3.68 eV) by a nitrogen laser. For the first time for nanocrystalline TiO2 a features in the high-resolution PL spectra, including the exciton band and interband transitions were registered. It is concluded that the processes of absorption and emission of light near the edge of the forbidden zone occur with the participation of the same electronic transitions. PL bands, including the peaks at 2.71-2.81 eV in the anatase and rutile arise due to exciton recombination in the TiO2 lattice oxygen vacancies. The exciton peak at 2.91 eV is attributed to the recombination of self-trapped excitons in anatase or to the free exciton in rutile, respectively. PL bands within 3.0-3.3 eV attributed to indirect and direct allowed transitions due to electron-hole recombination. PL bands at 3.03 eV and 3.26 eV, attributed to the emission of free excitons near the fundamental absorption edge of rutile and anatase, respectively. The influence of TiO2 crystal structure and calcination temperature of the samples on the PL spectra and optical absorbtion is discussed.