The photoelectrochemical behavior of TiO 2 (rutile) electrodes has been investigated as a function of electrode preparation. Mechanical polishing of the electrodes has been found to introduce a disturbed layer on the order of 1 μm deep. The experimental results indicate that this layer has an increased density of recombination sites. In addition, this layer affects the reduction process by which donors are created in TiO 2 . Etching or annealing this layer can remove it or modify its behavior. The behavior of etched and annealed electrodes indicates that the absorption and/or reflection of light by TiO 2 can be affected by electrode processing. The stability of TiO 2 electrodes is discussed in terms of their usefulness in electrochemical studies.
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Wilson et al. (1979) studied this question.