Hollow nanomaterials based on silver-gold and silver-palladium dor aplications in plasmonic catalysis

Abstract

This project proposes the development of bimetallic nanostructures containing interior voids with size, shape and well-defined and controllable composition. In particular, we are interested in obtaining nanocascas and nanotubes composed of silver - gold ( Au - Ag ) or silver - palladium ( Ag- Pd) for applications in catalysis enhanced/mediated by plasmon excitation . The first stage of this work will focus on the synthesis and characterization of Ag nanostructures with defined morphology and dimensions. Specifically, this project will focus on: I ) nanospheres with diameters ~ 35 nm ; and II ) with nanowire width d 100 nm and lengths > 3 mm . In the second part of this work, the Ag nanospheres and nanowires are used as sacrificial templates in the galvanic replacement reaction with ions or AuCl4- PdCl42- type Ag - Au and Ag - Pd . In the last stage of this work, the nanostructures generated will be used as catalysts for processes mediated by plasmonic excitation employing the oxidation of 4 - aminothiophenol the 4,4 - dimercaptoazobenzeno as a model system . In this sense, we intend to evaluate the effect of composition, structure and presence of one or more metals with frequency plasmon excitation in the visible region of the catalytic activity observed.