Thanks a lot Muhammad Bilal

How could you explain the role of Titanium to increase the electron withdrawing nature of the C-O-Ti bond? I was wondering about the fact that the electronegativity of Titanium (1.5) is less than the Hydrogen electronegativity (2.1). Therefore, I may expect that the Oxygen in C-O-Ti has less tension and therefore higher strength to attract electrons from the Carbon in comparison with the Oxygen in C-O-H. Higher attraction of electron means higher binding energy. Is all of this argument right?

In addition, I can't see the paper about XPS of TiCxOy films, hopefully you can share with me the reference of it

Best

Marco

Thanks a lot Muhammad Bilal

Regarding the O1s, The O-Ti-O bond of TiO2 has a binding energy of 529.95eV and the O-C-O has a binding energy of 531.8, then I might expect that the C-O-Ti shows up in the middle between them around 531 eV. Would you expect also this?

Best

Marco

In addition, If the C-O-Ti bond is generated by the condensation reaction between TiO2 surface OH groups and OH groups from graphene oxide, I wonder whether the TiO2 donates the H+ and Graphene Oxide donates the OH- or Graphene Oxide donates the H+ and TiO2 donates the OH- (Maybe things happen the same way as in the example of Lignin-TiO2 functionalization via condensation reaction (see the second attached image)). In the case TiO2 donates the OH-, I also wonder which hydroxyl group is more prone to be removed, the hydroxyl group where the Oxygen atom comes from the water chemisorbed or the hydroxyl group where the Oxygen atom comes from the TiO2 crystal lattice (see the first attached image). If an Oxygen from the lattice could be removed, this means that this functionalization process could produce Oxygen Vacancies, which have important implications.

Best

Marco