Urbach tail of anataseTiO2

Abstract

The fundamental absorption edge of the anatase phase of ${\mathrm{TiO}}_2$ has been studied by performing polarized optical transmission measurements on single crystals at temperatures ranging from 4.2 to 300 K. An Urbach tail has been found that shows an exponential spectral dependence down to liquid-helium temperature. The optical gap of anatase has been estimated to be 3.420 eV in polarization E⊥c, and 3.460 eV in polarization E∥c. Our experimental results can be accounted for in terms of the theory of Toyozawa and co-workers, which ascribes the Urbach tail to the momentary localization of excitons due to phonon interaction. Comparing, in this case, the measured abosrption spectra of anatase and rutile, we conclude that the excitons in anatase are self-trapped while those in rutile are free. This opposite nature of exciton states in anatase and rutile is consistent with the results of previous photoluminescence studies.