Using plasmonics excitations for enhanced electrocatalysis

Abstract

This project proposes to study the influence of localized surface plasmon resonance phenomenon of noble metal nanoparticles supported on semiconductors on electrocatalysis. This physical phenomenon is caused by the interaction between conduction band electrons and incident electromagnetic radiation, triggering a collective oscillation of charges on nanoparticles' surfaces. Considering energetic technological applications, excited carriers, which are the electrons and holes excited by the absorbed energy from light, can participate in chemical transformations, such as water oxidation (one of the challenging reactions for implementation of hydrogen fuel cell technology), and also boost electrochemical reaction, as shown in Prof. Jain's and other labs. In literature, it remains unclear by what mechanism do plasmonically generated carriers influence electrocatalysis. Therefore, the main interest of this project is to investigate and understand the influence of plasmonic excitations and, possibly, measure the contribution of various mechanistic processes, including electron-hole pairs, local heating, and photopotentials. In order to achieve this goal, the hybrid nanocatalysts will be composed of noble metal nanoparticles (Au NPs) supported on semiconductors (Cu2O and MnO2) for a model reaction, such as Oxygen Evolution Reaction. (AU)