1
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Zhang Q, Li W, Zhao R, Tang P, Zhao J, Wu G, Chen X, Hu M, Yuan K, Li J, Yang X. Real-time observation of two distinctive non-thermalized hot electron dynamics at MXene/molecule interfaces. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4406. [PMID: 38782991 PMCID: PMC11116487 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48842-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The photoinduced non-thermalized hot electrons at an interface play a pivotal role in determining plasmonic driven chemical events. However, understanding non-thermalized electron dynamics, which precedes electron thermalization (~125 fs), remains a grand challenge. Herein, we simultaneously captured the dynamics of both molecules and non-thermalized electrons in the MXene/molecule complexes by femtosecond time-resolved spectroscopy. The real-time observation allows for distinguishing non-thermalized and thermalized electron responses. Differing from the thermalized electron/heat transfer, our results reveal two non-thermalized electron dynamical pathways: (i) the non-thermalized electrons directly transfer to attached molecules at an interface within 50 fs; (ii) the non-thermalized electrons scatter at the interface within 125 fs, inducing adsorbed molecules heating. These two distinctive pathways are dependent on the irradiating wavelength and the energy difference between MXene and adsorbed molecules. This research sheds light on the fundamental mechanism and opens opportunities in photocatalysis and interfacial heat transfer theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Zhang
- Institute of Medical Photonics, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics and Dalian Coherent Light Source, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian, 116023, P.R. China
| | - Wei Li
- Suzhou Laboratory, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
- GuSu Laboratory of Materials, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ruixuan Zhao
- Institute of Medical Photonics, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, P.R. China
| | - Peizhe Tang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, P.R. China
| | - Jie Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics and Dalian Coherent Light Source, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian, 116023, P.R. China
| | - Guorong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics and Dalian Coherent Light Source, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian, 116023, P.R. China
| | - Xin Chen
- Suzhou Laboratory, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
- GuSu Laboratory of Materials, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mingjun Hu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, P.R. China
| | - Kaijun Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics and Dalian Coherent Light Source, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian, 116023, P.R. China.
- Hefei National Laboratory, Hefei, 230088, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Jiebo Li
- Institute of Medical Photonics, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, P.R. China.
| | - Xueming Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics and Dalian Coherent Light Source, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian, 116023, P.R. China
- Hefei National Laboratory, Hefei, 230088, China
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Advanced Light Source Research, College of Science, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
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2
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Fojt J, Rossi TP, Kumar PV, Erhart P. Tailoring Hot-Carrier Distributions of Plasmonic Nanostructures through Surface Alloying. ACS NANO 2024; 18:6398-6405. [PMID: 38363179 PMCID: PMC10906084 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c11418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Alloyed metal nanoparticles are a promising platform for plasmonically enabled hot-carrier generation, which can be used to drive photochemical reactions. Although the non-plasmonic component in these systems has been investigated for its potential to enhance catalytic activity, its capacity to affect the photochemical process favorably has been underexplored by comparison. Here, we study the impact of surface alloy species and concentration on hot-carrier generation in Ag nanoparticles. By first-principles simulations, we photoexcite the localized surface plasmon, allow it to dephase, and calculate spatially and energetically resolved hot-carrier distributions. We show that the presence of non-noble species in the topmost surface layer drastically enhances hot-hole generation at the surface at the expense of hot-hole generation in the bulk, due to the additional d-type states that are introduced to the surface. The energy of the generated holes can be tuned by choice of the alloyant, with systematic trends across the d-band block. Already low surface alloy concentrations have a large impact, with a saturation of the enhancement effect typically close to 75% of a monolayer. Hot-electron generation at the surface is hindered slightly by alloying, but here a judicious choice of the alloy composition allows one to strike a balance between hot electrons and holes. Our work underscores the promise of utilizing multicomponent nanoparticles to achieve enhanced control over plasmonic catalysis and provides guidelines for how hot-carrier distributions can be tailored by designing the electronic structure of the surface through alloying.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Fojt
- Department
of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Tuomas P. Rossi
- Department
of Applied Physics, Aalto University, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Priyank V. Kumar
- School
of Chemical Engineering, The University
of New South Wales, 2052 Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Paul Erhart
- Department
of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
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3
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Dall’Osto G, Marsili M, Vanzan M, Toffoli D, Stener M, Corni S, Coccia E. Peeking into the Femtosecond Hot-Carrier Dynamics Reveals Unexpected Mechanisms in Plasmonic Photocatalysis. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:2208-2218. [PMID: 38199967 PMCID: PMC10811681 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c12470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Plasmonic-driven photocatalysis may lead to reaction selectivity that cannot be otherwise achieved. A fundamental role is played by hot carriers, i.e., electrons and holes generated upon plasmonic decay within the metal nanostructure interacting with molecular species. Understanding the elusive microscopic mechanism behind such selectivity is a key step in the rational design of hot-carrier reactions. To accomplish that, we present state-of-the-art multiscale simulations, going beyond density functional theory, of hot-carrier injections for the rate-determining step of a photocatalytic reaction. We focus on carbon dioxide reduction, for which it was experimentally shown that the presence of a rhodium nanocube under illumination leads to the selective production of methane against carbon monoxide. We show that selectivity is due to a (predominantly) direct hole injection from rhodium to the reaction intermediate CHO. Unexpectedly, such an injection does not promote the selective reaction path by favoring proper bond breaking but rather by promoting bonding of the proper molecular fragment to the surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Dall’Osto
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Chimiche, Università di
Padova, via F. Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Margherita Marsili
- Dipartimento
di Fisica e Astronomia “Augusto Righi”, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Mirko Vanzan
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Chimiche, Università di
Padova, via F. Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Dipartimento
di Fisica, University of Milan, Via Giovanni Celoria 16, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Daniele Toffoli
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, University
of Trieste, via L. Giorgieri 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Mauro Stener
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, University
of Trieste, via L. Giorgieri 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Stefano Corni
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Chimiche, Università di
Padova, via F. Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Istituto
Nanoscienze-CNR, via
Campi 213/A, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Emanuele Coccia
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, University
of Trieste, via L. Giorgieri 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy
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4
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Lyu P, Espinoza R, Nguyen SC. Photocatalysis of Metallic Nanoparticles: Interband vs Intraband Induced Mechanisms. THE JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY. C, NANOMATERIALS AND INTERFACES 2023; 127:15685-15698. [PMID: 37609384 PMCID: PMC10440817 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.3c04436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Photocatalysis induced by localized surface plasmon resonance of metallic nanoparticles has been studied for more than a decade, but photocatalysis originating from direct interband excitations is still under-explored. The spectral overlap and the coupling of these two optical regimes also complicate the determination of hot carriers' energy states and eventually hinder the accurate assignment of their catalytic role in studied reactions. In this Featured Article, after reviewing previous studies, we suggest classifying the photoexcitation via intra- and interband transitions where the physical states of hot carriers are well-defined. Intraband transitions are featured by creating hot electrons above the Fermi level and suitable for reductive catalytic pathways, whereas interband transitions are featured by generating hot d-band holes below the Fermi level and better for oxidative catalytic pathways. Since the contribution of intra- and interband transitions are different in the spectral regions of localized surface plasmon resonance and direct interband excitations, the wavelength dependence of the photocatalytic activities is very helpful in assigning which transitions and carriers contribute to the observed catalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pin Lyu
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California, Merced, 5200 North Lake Road, Merced, California 95343, United States
| | - Randy Espinoza
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California, Merced, 5200 North Lake Road, Merced, California 95343, United States
| | - Son C. Nguyen
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of California, Merced, 5200 North Lake Road, Merced, California 95343, United States
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5
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Roche B, Vo T, Chang WS. Promoting plasmonic photocatalysis with ligand-induced charge separation under interband excitation. Chem Sci 2023; 14:8598-8606. [PMID: 37592991 PMCID: PMC10430595 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc02167j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmonic nanoparticles have been demonstrated to enhance photocatalysis due to their strong photon absorption and efficient hot-carrier generation. However, plasmonic photocatalysts suffer from a short lifetime of plasmon-generated hot carriers that decay through internal relaxation pathways before being harnessed for chemical reactions. Here, we demonstrate the enhanced photocatalytic reduction of gold ions on gold nanorods functionalized with polyvinylpyrrolidone. The catalytic activities of the reaction are quantified by in situ monitoring of the spectral evolution of single nanorods using a dark-field scattering microscope. We observe a 13-fold increase in the reduction rate with the excitation of d-sp interband transition compared to dark conditions, and a negligible increase in the reduction rate when excited with intraband transition. The hole scavenger only plays a minor role in the photocatalytic reduction reaction. We attribute the enhanced photocatalysis to an efficient charge separation at the gold-polyvinylpyrrolidone interface, where photogenerated d-band holes at gold transfer to the HOMO of polyvinylpyrrolidone, leading to the prolonged lifetime of the electrons that subsequently reduce gold ions to gold atoms. These results provide new insight into the design of plasmonic photocatalysts with capping ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Roche
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth North Dartmouth Massachusetts 02747 USA
| | - Tamie Vo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth North Dartmouth Massachusetts 02747 USA
| | - Wei-Shun Chang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth North Dartmouth Massachusetts 02747 USA
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6
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Zhu Z, Tang R, Li C, An X, He L. Promises of Plasmonic Antenna-Reactor Systems in Gas-Phase CO 2 Photocatalysis. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2302568. [PMID: 37338243 PMCID: PMC10460874 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202302568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Sunlight-driven photocatalytic CO2 reduction provides intriguing opportunities for addressing the energy and environmental crises faced by humans. The rational combination of plasmonic antennas and active transition metal-based catalysts, known as "antenna-reactor" (AR) nanostructures, allows the simultaneous optimization of optical and catalytic performances of photocatalysts, and thus holds great promise for CO2 photocatalysis. Such design combines the favorable absorption, radiative, and photochemical properties of the plasmonic components with the great catalytic potentials and conductivities of the reactor components. In this review, recent developments of photocatalysts based on plasmonic AR systems for various gas-phase CO2 reduction reactions with emphasis on the electronic structure of plasmonic and catalytic metals, plasmon-driven catalytic pathways, and the role of AR complex in photocatalytic processes are summarized. Perspectives in terms of challenges and future research in this area are also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijie Zhu
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM)Soochow UniversitySuzhou215123P. R. China
| | - Rui Tang
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM)Soochow UniversitySuzhou215123P. R. China
| | - Chaoran Li
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM)Soochow UniversitySuzhou215123P. R. China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon‐Based Functional Materials & DevicesSoochow UniversitySuzhouJiangsu215123P. R. China
| | - Xingda An
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM)Soochow UniversitySuzhou215123P. R. China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Negative Carbon TechnologiesSoochow UniversitySuzhouJiangsu215123P. R. China
| | - Le He
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM)Soochow UniversitySuzhou215123P. R. China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Negative Carbon TechnologiesSoochow UniversitySuzhouJiangsu215123P. R. China
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7
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Wu X, van der Heide T, Wen S, Frauenheim T, Tretiak S, Yam C, Zhang Y. Molecular dynamics study of plasmon-mediated chemical transformations. Chem Sci 2023; 14:4714-4723. [PMID: 37181766 PMCID: PMC10171182 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc06648c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Heterogeneous catalysis of adsorbates on metallic surfaces mediated by plasmons has potential high photoelectric conversion efficiency and controllable reaction selectivity. Theoretical modeling of dynamical reaction processes enables in-depth analyses complementing experimental investigations. Especially for plasmon-mediated chemical transformations, light absorption, photoelectric conversion, electron-electron scattering, and electron-phonon coupling occur simultaneously on different timescales, making it very challenging to delineate the complex interplay of different factors. In this work, a trajectory surface hopping non-adiabatic molecular dynamics method is used to investigate the dynamics of plasmon excitation in an Au20-CO system, including hot carrier generation, plasmon energy relaxation, and CO activation induced by electron-vibration coupling. The electronic properties indicate that when Au20-CO is excited, a partial charge transfer takes place from Au20 to CO. On the other hand, dynamical simulations show that hot carriers generated after plasmon excitation transfer back and forth between Au20 and CO. Meanwhile, the C-O stretching mode is activated due to non-adiabatic couplings. The efficiency of plasmon-mediated transformations (∼40%) is obtained based on the ensemble average of these quantities. Our simulations provide important dynamical and atomistic insights into plasmon-mediated chemical transformations from the perspective of non-adiabatic simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Wu
- Shenzhen JL Computational Science and Applied Research Institute Longhua District Shenzhen 518110 China
| | - Tammo van der Heide
- Bremen Center for Computational Materials Science, University of Bremen Bremen 28359 Germany
| | - Shizheng Wen
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Modern Measurement Technology and Intelligent Systems, School of Physics and Electronic Electrical Engineering, Huaiyin Normal University Huaian 223300 China
| | - Thomas Frauenheim
- Shenzhen JL Computational Science and Applied Research Institute Longhua District Shenzhen 518110 China
- Bremen Center for Computational Materials Science, University of Bremen Bremen 28359 Germany
- Beijing Computational Science Research Center Haidian District Beijing 100193 China
| | - Sergei Tretiak
- Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos New Mexico 87545 USA
- Center of Integrated Nanotechnologies, Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos New Mexico 87545 USA
| | - ChiYung Yam
- Shenzhen Institute for Advanced Study, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Shenzhen 518000 China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos New Mexico 87545 USA
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8
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Singh S, Verma R, Kaul N, Sa J, Punjal A, Prabhu S, Polshettiwar V. Surface plasmon-enhanced photo-driven CO 2 hydrogenation by hydroxy-terminated nickel nitride nanosheets. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2551. [PMID: 37137916 PMCID: PMC10156734 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38235-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The majority of visible light-active plasmonic catalysts are often limited to Au, Ag, Cu, Al, etc., which have considerations in terms of costs, accessibility, and instability. Here, we show hydroxy-terminated nickel nitride (Ni3N) nanosheets as an alternative to these metals. The Ni3N nanosheets catalyze CO2 hydrogenation with a high CO production rate (1212 mmol g-1 h-1) and selectivity (99%) using visible light. Reaction rate shows super-linear power law dependence on the light intensity, while quantum efficiencies increase with an increase in light intensity and reaction temperature. The transient absorption experiments reveal that the hydroxyl groups increase the number of hot electrons available for photocatalysis. The in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy shows that the CO2 hydrogenation proceeds via the direct dissociation pathway. The excellent photocatalytic performance of these Ni3N nanosheets (without co-catalysts or sacrificial agents) is suggestive of the use of metal nitrides instead of conventional plasmonic metal nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saideep Singh
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India
| | - Rishi Verma
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India
| | - Nidhi Kaul
- Department of Chemistry-Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jacinto Sa
- Department of Chemistry-Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ajinkya Punjal
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India
| | - Shriganesh Prabhu
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India
| | - Vivek Polshettiwar
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India.
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9
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Gao Y, Zhu Q, He S, Wang S, Nie W, Wu K, Fan F, Li C. Observation of Charge Separation Enhancement in Plasmonic Photocatalysts under Coupling Conditions. NANO LETTERS 2023; 23:3540-3548. [PMID: 37026801 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c00697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Surface plasmon resonance-induced charge separation plays key roles in plasmon-related applications, especially in photocatalysis and photovoltaics. Plasmon coupling nanostructures exhibit extraordinary behaviors in hybrid states, phonon scattering, and ultrafast plasmon dephasing, but plasmon-induced charge separation in these materials remains unknown. Here, we design Schottky-free Au nanoparticle (NP)/NiO/Au nanoparticles-on-a-mirror plasmonic photocatalysts to support plasmon-induced interfacial hole transfer, evidenced by surface photovoltage microscopy at the single-particle level. In particular, we observe a nonlinear increase in charge density and photocatalytic performance with an increase in excitation intensity in plasmonic photocatalysts containing hot spots as a result of varying the geometry. Such charge separation increased the internal quantum efficiency by 14 times at 600 nm in catalytic reactions as compared to that of the Au NP/NiO without a coupling effect. These observations provide an improved understanding of charge transfer management and utilization by geometric engineering and interface electronic structure for plasmonic photocatalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuying Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Zhongshan Road 457, Dalian 116023, P. R. China
| | - Qianhong Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Zhongshan Road 457, Dalian 116023, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shan He
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Shengyang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Zhongshan Road 457, Dalian 116023, P. R. China
| | - Wei Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Zhongshan Road 457, Dalian 116023, P. R. China
| | - Kaifeng Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Fengtao Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Zhongshan Road 457, Dalian 116023, P. R. China
| | - Can Li
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Zhongshan Road 457, Dalian 116023, P. R. China
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10
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Vanzan M, Gil G, Castaldo D, Nordlander P, Corni S. Energy Transfer to Molecular Adsorbates by Transient Hot Electron Spillover. NANO LETTERS 2023; 23:2719-2725. [PMID: 37010208 PMCID: PMC10103299 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c00013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Hot electron (HE) photocatalysis is one of the most intriguing fields of nanoscience, with a clear potential for technological impact. Despite much effort, the mechanisms of HE photocatalysis are not fully understood. Here we investigate a mechanism based on transient electron spillover on a molecule and subsequent energy release into vibrational modes. We use state-of-the-art real-time Time Dependent Density Functional Theory (rt-TDDFT), simulating the dynamics of a HE moving within linear chains of Ag or Au atoms, on which CO, N2, or H2O are adsorbed. We estimate the energy a HE can release into adsorbate vibrational modes and show that certain modes are selectively activated. The energy transfer strongly depends on the adsorbate, the metal, and the HE energy. Considering a cumulative effect from multiple HEs, we estimate this mechanism can transfer tenths of an eV to molecular vibrations and could play an important role in HE photocatalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirko Vanzan
- Department
of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Department
of Physics, University of Milan, Via Celoria 16, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Gabriel Gil
- Instituto
de Cibernetica, Matematica y Física, Calle E esq 15 Vedado, 10400 La Habana, Cuba
| | - Davide Castaldo
- Department
of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Peter Nordlander
- Department
of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Stefano Corni
- Department
of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy
- CNR
Institute of Nanoscience, via Campi 213/A, 41125 Modena, Italy
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11
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Jiang W, Low BQL, Long R, Low J, Loh H, Tang KY, Chai CHT, Zhu H, Zhu H, Li Z, Loh XJ, Xiong Y, Ye E. Active Site Engineering on Plasmonic Nanostructures for Efficient Photocatalysis. ACS NANO 2023; 17:4193-4229. [PMID: 36802513 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c12314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Plasmonic nanostructures have shown immense potential in photocatalysis because of their distinct photochemical properties associated with tunable photoresponses and strong light-matter interactions. The introduction of highly active sites is essential to fully exploit the potential of plasmonic nanostructures in photocatalysis, considering the inferior intrinsic activities of typical plasmonic metals. This review focuses on active site-engineered plasmonic nanostructures with enhanced photocatalytic performance, wherein the active sites are classified into four types (i.e., metallic sites, defect sites, ligand-grafted sites, and interface sites). The synergy between active sites and plasmonic nanostructures in photocatalysis is discussed in detail after briefly introducing the material synthesis and characterization methods. Active sites can promote the coupling of solar energy harvested by plasmonic metal to catalytic reactions in the form of local electromagnetic fields, hot carriers, and photothermal heating. Moreover, efficient energy coupling potentially regulates the reaction pathway by facilitating the excited state formation of reactants, changing the status of active sites, and creating additional active sites using photoexcited plasmonic metals. Afterward, the application of active site-engineered plasmonic nanostructures in emerging photocatalytic reactions is summarized. Finally, a summary and perspective of the existing challenges and future opportunities are presented. This review aims to deliver some insights into plasmonic photocatalysis from the perspective of active sites, expediting the discovery of high-performance plasmonic photocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbin Jiang
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138634, Republic of Singapore
| | - Beverly Qian Ling Low
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138634, Republic of Singapore
| | - Ran Long
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Jingxiang Low
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Hongyi Loh
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138634, Republic of Singapore
| | - Karen Yuanting Tang
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138634, Republic of Singapore
| | - Casandra Hui Teng Chai
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138634, Republic of Singapore
| | - Houjuan Zhu
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138634, Republic of Singapore
| | - Hui Zhu
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Republic of Singapore
| | - Zibiao Li
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138634, Republic of Singapore
- Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138634, Republic of Singapore
| | - Xian Jun Loh
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138634, Republic of Singapore
- Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138634, Republic of Singapore
| | - Yujie Xiong
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Enyi Ye
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138634, Republic of Singapore
- Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138634, Republic of Singapore
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12
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Yuan Y, Zhou L, Robatjazi H, Bao JL, Zhou J, Bayles A, Yuan L, Lou M, Lou M, Khatiwada S, Carter EA, Nordlander P, Halas NJ. Earth-abundant photocatalyst for H
2
generation from NH
3
with light-emitting diode illumination. Science 2022; 378:889-893. [PMID: 36423268 DOI: 10.1126/science.abn5636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Catalysts based on platinum group metals have been a major focus of the chemical industry for decades. We show that plasmonic photocatalysis can transform a thermally unreactive, earth-abundant transition metal into a catalytically active site under illumination. Fe active sites in a Cu-Fe antenna-reactor complex achieve efficiencies very similar to Ru for the photocatalytic decomposition of ammonia under ultrafast pulsed illumination. When illuminated with light-emitting diodes rather than lasers, the photocatalytic efficiencies remain comparable, even when the scale of reaction increases by nearly three orders of magnitude. This result demonstrates the potential for highly efficient, electrically driven production of hydrogen from an ammonia carrier with earth-abundant transition metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yigao Yuan
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University; Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Linan Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University; Houston, TX 77005, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University; Houston, TX 77005, USA
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Hossein Robatjazi
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University; Houston, TX 77005, USA
- Syzygy Plasmonics Inc., Houston, TX 77054, USA
| | - Junwei Lucas Bao
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544-5263; Present address: Department of Chemistry, Boston College; Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA
| | - Jingyi Zhou
- Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University; Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Aaron Bayles
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University; Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Lin Yuan
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University; Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Minghe Lou
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University; Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Minhan Lou
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University; Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | | | - Emily A. Carter
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles; Los Angeles, CA 90095-1405 and Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University; Princeton, NJ 08544-5263, USA
| | - Peter Nordlander
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University; Houston, TX 77005, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Naomi J. Halas
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University; Houston, TX 77005, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University; Houston, TX 77005, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
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13
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Fojt J, Rossi TP, Kuisma M, Erhart P. Hot-Carrier Transfer across a Nanoparticle-Molecule Junction: The Importance of Orbital Hybridization and Level Alignment. NANO LETTERS 2022; 22:8786-8792. [PMID: 36200744 PMCID: PMC9650767 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c02327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
While direct hot-carrier transfer can increase photocatalytic activity, it is difficult to discern experimentally and competes with several other mechanisms. To shed light on these aspects, here, we model from first-principles hot-carrier generation across the interface between plasmonic nanoparticles and a CO molecule. The hot-electron transfer probability depends nonmonotonically on the nanoparticle-molecule distance and can be effective at long distances, even before a strong chemical bond can form; hot-hole transfer on the other hand is limited to shorter distances. These observations can be explained by the energetic alignment between molecular and nanoparticle states as well as the excitation frequency. The hybridization of the molecular orbitals is the key predictor for hot-carrier transfer in these systems, emphasizing the necessity of ground state hybridization for accurate predictions. Finally, we show a nontrivial dependence of the hot-carrier distribution on the excitation energy, which could be exploited when optimizing photocatalytic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Fojt
- Department
of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Tuomas P. Rossi
- Department
of Applied Physics, Aalto University, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Mikael Kuisma
- Department
of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens
Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Paul Erhart
- Department
of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
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14
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Salavati-fard T, Wang B. Plasmon-Assisted Direct Interfacial Charge Transfer Enables Molecular Photodissociation on Metal Surfaces. ACS Catal 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.2c03922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Taha Salavati-fard
- School of Chemical, Biological, and Materials Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma73069, United States
| | - Bin Wang
- School of Chemical, Biological, and Materials Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma73069, United States
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15
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Dingenen F, Borah R, Ninakanti R, Verbruggen SW. Probing oxygen activation on plasmonic photocatalysts. Front Chem 2022; 10:988542. [PMID: 36171996 PMCID: PMC9510664 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.988542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this work we present an assay to probe the oxygen activation rate on plasmonic nanoparticles under visible light. Using a superoxide-specific XTT molecular probe, the oxygen activation rate on bimetallic gold-silver “rainbow” nanoparticles with a broadband visible light (> 420 nm) response, is determined at different light intensities by measuring its conversion into the colored XTT-formazan derivate. A kinetic model is applied to enable a quantitative estimation of the rate constant, and is shown to match almost perfectly with the experimental data. Next, the broadband visible light driven oxygen activation capacity of this plasmonic rainbow system, supported on nano-sized SiO2, is demonstrated towards the oxidation of aniline to azobenzene in DMSO. To conclude, a brief theoretical discussion is devoted to the possible mechanisms behind such plasmon-driven reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fons Dingenen
- Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Sustainable Energy, Air & Water Technology (DuEL), Antwerp, Belgium
- Nanolab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Rituraj Borah
- Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Sustainable Energy, Air & Water Technology (DuEL), Antwerp, Belgium
- Nanolab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Rajeshreddy Ninakanti
- Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Sustainable Energy, Air & Water Technology (DuEL), Antwerp, Belgium
- Nanolab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Physics, Electron Microscopy for Material Science, University of Antwerpen, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sammy W. Verbruggen
- Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Sustainable Energy, Air & Water Technology (DuEL), Antwerp, Belgium
- Nanolab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Sammy W. Verbruggen,
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16
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Morphology and Optical Properties of Gas-Phase-Synthesized Plasmonic Nanoparticles: Cu and Cu/MgO. MATERIALS 2022; 15:ma15134429. [PMID: 35806555 PMCID: PMC9267164 DOI: 10.3390/ma15134429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, an investigation of the properties of Cu and Cu/MgO nanoparticles (NPs) is presented. The NPs were obtained with gas-phase synthesis, and the MgO shells or matrices were formed via the co-deposition method on inert substrates. SEM and AFM were used to investigate the NP morphology on Si/SiOx, quartz, and HOPG. The Cu NPs revealed flattening of their shape, and when they were deposited on HOPG, diffusion and formation of small chains were observed. The embedding of Cu NPs in MgO was confirmed by TEM and EDX maps. XPS showed that Cu was in its metallic state, regardless of the presence of the surrounding MgO. UV–Vis revealed the presence of an intense localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) for Cu/MgO and for “bare” NPs. These results confirmed the role of MgO as a protective transparent medium for Cu, and the wavelength position of the LSPR in the Cu/MgO system was consistent with calculations. The wavelength position of the LSPR observed for “bare” and post-oxidized Cu NPs was probably affected by the formation of copper oxide shells after exposure to air. This study paves the way for the use of Cu/MgO NPs as plasmonic nanomaterials in applications such as photovoltaics and sensor technology.
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17
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Rahman A, Goswami T, Tyagi N, Ghosh HN, Neelakandan PP. Hot Electron Migration from Gold Nanoparticle to an Organic Molecule Enhances Luminescence and Photosensitization Properties of a pH Activatable Plasmon-Molecule Coupled Nanocomposite. J Photochem Photobiol A Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotochem.2022.114067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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18
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Fang S, Hu YH. Thermo-photo catalysis: a whole greater than the sum of its parts. Chem Soc Rev 2022; 51:3609-3647. [PMID: 35419581 DOI: 10.1039/d1cs00782c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Thermo-photo catalysis, which is the catalysis with the participation of both thermal and photo energies, not only reduces the large energy consumption of thermal catalysis but also addresses the low efficiency of photocatalysis. As a whole greater than the sum of its parts, thermo-photo catalysis has been proven as an effective and promising technology to drive chemical reactions. In this review, we first clarify the definition (beyond photo-thermal catalysis and plasmonic catalysis), classification, and principles of thermo-photo catalysis and then reveal its superiority over individual thermal catalysis and photocatalysis. After elucidating the design principles and strategies toward highly efficient thermo-photo catalytic systems, an ample discussion on the synergetic effects of thermal and photo energies is provided from two perspectives, namely, the promotion of photocatalysis by thermal energy and the promotion of thermal catalysis by photo energy. Subsequently, state-of-the-art techniques applied to explore thermo-photo catalytic mechanisms are reviewed, followed by a summary on the broad applications of thermo-photo catalysis and its energy management toward industrialization. In the end, current challenges and potential research directions related to thermo-photo catalysis are outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyuan Fang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan 49931-1295, USA.
| | - Yun Hang Hu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan 49931-1295, USA.
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19
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Lee SA, Ostovar B, Landes CF, Link S. Spectroscopic signatures of plasmon-induced charge transfer in gold nanorods. J Chem Phys 2022; 156:064702. [DOI: 10.1063/5.0078621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen A. Lee
- Department of Chemistry, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
| | - Behnaz Ostovar
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
| | - Christy F. Landes
- Department of Chemistry, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
- Smalley-Curl Institute, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
| | - Stephan Link
- Department of Chemistry, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
- Smalley-Curl Institute, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
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20
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da Silva AGM, Rodrigues TS, Wang J, Camargo PHC. Plasmonic catalysis with designer nanoparticles. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:2055-2074. [PMID: 35044391 DOI: 10.1039/d1cc03779j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Catalysis is central to a more sustainable future and a circular economy. If the energy required to drive catalytic processes could be harvested directly from sunlight, the possibility of replacing contemporary processes based on terrestrial fuels by the conversion of light into chemical energy could become a step closer to reality. Plasmonic catalysis is currently at the forefront of photocatalysis, enabling one to overcome the limitations of "classical" wide bandgap semiconductors for solar-driven chemistry. Plasmonic catalysis enables the acceleration and control of a variety of molecular transformations due to the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) excitation. Studies in this area have often focused on the fundamental understanding of plasmonic catalysis and the demonstration of plasmonic catalytic activities towards different reactions. In this feature article, we discuss recent contributions from our group in this field by employing plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) with controllable features as model systems to gain insights into structure-performance relationships in plasmonic catalysis. We start by discussing the effect of size, shape, and composition in plasmonic NPs over their activities towards LSPR-mediated molecular transformations. Then, we focus on the effect of metal support interactions over activities, reaction selectivity, and reaction pathways. Next, we shift to the control over the structure in hollow NPs and nanorattles. Inspired by the findings from these model systems, we demonstrate a design-driven strategy for the development of plasmonic catalysts based on plasmonic-catalytic multicomponent NPs for two types of molecular transformations: the selective hydrogenation of phenylacetylene and the oxygen evolution reaction. Finally, future directions, challenges, and perspectives in the field of plasmonic catalysis with designer NPs are discussed. We believe that the examples and concepts presented herein may inspire work and progress in plasmonic catalysis encompassing the design of plasmonic multicomponent materials, new strategies to control reaction selectivity, and the unraveling of stability and reaction mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anderson G M da Silva
- Departamento de Engenharia Química e de Materiais-DEQM, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Rua Marquês de São Vicente, 225 - Gávea 22453-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Thenner S Rodrigues
- Nanotechnology Engineering Program, Alberto Luiz Coimbra Institute for Graduate Studies and Research in Engineering, COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Av. Horácio Macedo, 2030, 21.941-972, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Jiale Wang
- College of Science, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, P. R. China
| | - Pedro H C Camargo
- University of Helsinki, Department of Chemistry, A.I. Virtasen aukio 1, Helsinki, Finland.
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