Plasmonic Nanoparticle Catalysis in Visible Light Applications
Summary
Plasmonic nanoparticle catalysis harnesses the ability of metallic nanostructures to absorb visible photons through collective electron oscillations, known as localised surface plasmon resonances, and convert that energy into chemical activity. Upon excitation, energy can be dissipated as heat in ultralocalised hot spots or can produce energetic charge carriers (hot electrons and holes) that transfer to reactant molecules adsorbed on the nanoparticle surface. This dual photothermal and photochemical functionality enables a range of transformations under mild conditions, from selective bond activation in organic syntheses to solar-driven fuel generation. Design strategies focus on tailoring nanoparticle composition, shape and support interactions to optimise light harvesting, carrier separation and surface reaction pathways. Recent progress has been driven by advances in bimetallic architectures, semiconductor–metal junctions and hybrid interfaces that extend light absorption into the visible and near-infrared, while simultaneously improving catalytic turnover and selectivity. The global importance of this approach centres on its potential to convert abundant solar energy into value-added chemicals, hydrogen fuels and environmental remediation processes without high thermal inputs.
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Plasmonic Nanoparticle Catalysis in Visible Light Applications publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in plasmonic nanoparticle catalysis in visible light applications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Localised Surface Plason Resonance (LSPR): Coherent oscillation of conduction electrons in a nanoparticle excited by incident light, resulting in strong optical absorption and field enhancement.
Hot Carriers: Energetic electrons and holes generated by non-radiative decay of plasmons that can transfer to adsorbed molecules and drive chemical reactions.
Photothermal Conversion: The process by which absorbed photon energy is converted into heat, creating steep temperature gradients at the nanoparticle surface.
Near-Field Enhancement: Intensification of electromagnetic fields in the immediate vicinity of a plasmonic nanoparticle, facilitating increased light–matter interactions.
Photocatalysis: Acceleration of chemical reactions by light-induced generation of reactive species, often mediated by semiconductor or metallic catalysts.
Bimetallic Nanocatalyst: A composite nanoparticle containing two metal species, engineered to combine plasmonic light harvesting with catalytic functions for improved efficiency and selectivity.
References
- Plasmon-induced charge separation: chemistry and wide applications. Chemical Science (2017).
- Plasmonic Au–Pd Bimetallic Nanocatalysts for Hot-Carrier-Enhanced Photocatalytic and Electrochemical Ethanol Oxidation. Crystals (2021).
- Plasmonic nanocatalysts for visible-NIR light induced hydrogen generation from storage materials. Materials Advances (2021).
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