Scanning tunneling microscopy and density functional theory combined studies of rutile TiO 2 (1 1 0) surface chemistry: Watch surface processes at the atomic scale

TiO 2 has attracted great interest in chemical and physical sciences, partially due to its potential applications in catalysis. This article provides a brief review on recent progresses of joint scanning tunneling microscopy and density functional theory investigations on the electronic structure of reduced rutile TiO 2 (1 1 0) surface and the adsorption and reaction of oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methanol, and ethanol on the surface. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.