Quantifying hot carrier and thermal contributions in plasmonic photocatalysis

Abstract

Plasmonic catalysts can generate hot charge carriers that can activate reactants and, in turn, reduce the overall barrier to a reaction. Zhou et al. studied the decomposition of ammonia to hydrogen on a copper alloy nanostructure that absorbed light and generated electrons that activated nitrogen atoms on ruthenium surface atoms (see the Perspective by Cortés). By measuring reaction rates at different wavelengths, light intensities, and catalyst surface temperatures, the light-induced reduction of the apparent activation barrier was quantified.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Oct 05, 2018
Source ID
10.1126/science.aat6967

Entities

People

  • Chao Zhang
  • Dayne F. Swearer
  • Emily A. Carter
  • Hangqi Zhao
  • Hossein Robatjazi
  • Liangliang Dong
  • Linan Zhou
  • Luke Henderson
  • Naomi J. Halas
  • Peter Nordlander
  • Phillip Christopher

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • Princeton University
  • Rice University
  • Robert A. Welch Foundation
  • University of California

Tags

Readers

  • Electrochemical Engineering/ Fuel Cell Technologies
  • Quantum Dot Semiconductor Device Photonics and Graphene Optoelectronic Materials and THz Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics