Vyshnepolsky M, Ding ZB, Srivastava P, Tesarik P, Mazhar H, Maestri M, Morgenstern K. The Influence of a Changing Local Environment during Photoinduced CO
2 Dissociation.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021;
60:18217-18222. [PMID:
33999493 PMCID:
PMC8456919 DOI:
10.1002/anie.202105468]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Though largely influencing the efficiency of a reaction, the molecular-scale details of the local environment of the reactants are experimentally inaccessible hindering an in-depth understanding of a catalyst's reactivity, a prerequisite to maximizing its efficiency. We introduce a method to follow individual molecules and their largely changing environment during a photochemical reaction. The method is illustrated for a rate-limiting step in a photolytic reaction, the dissociation of CO2 on two catalytically relevant surfaces, Ag(100) and Cu(111). We reveal with a single-molecule resolution how the reactant's surroundings evolve with progressing laser illumination and with it their propensity for dissociation. Counteracting processes lead to a volcano-like reactivity. Our unprecedented local view during a photoinduced reaction opens the avenue for understanding the influence of the products on reaction yields on the nanoscale.
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