Electron Beam Modulated Wettability and Electrical Conductivity of Hydrogen Titanate Nanowires

Abstract

The effect of electron irradiation on the chemical and physical properties of surfaces is an extremely crucial field of study in the context of space exploration, radiation chemistry, and physics. For instance, long-term ion and electron irradiations in planetary or satellite surfaces lead to a significant change in surface and environmental compositions. In this work the modification of hydrogen titanate nanowires using low energy electrons has been studied. The nanowires are initially strongly hydrophilic, which changes to hydrophobic after electron irradiation. The electrical conductivity of the nanowires increases systematically with irradiation dose. We have invoked first-principles-based calculations to explain the observed results. The calculation shows that the removal of OH groups from the layered structure due to irradiation influences the wetting property. Furthermore, the irradiation-induced defects lead to an empty Ti d-shell near the Fermi level, which contributes toward the modification of electrical conductivity. The theoretical predictions are also corroborated with X-ray diffraction, X-ray electron spectroscopic, and Raman scattering spectroscopic studies, respectively.