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Schirato A, Sanders SK, Proietti Zaccaria R, Nordlander P, Della Valle G, Alabastri A. Quantifying Ultrafast Energy Transfer from Plasmonic Hot Carriers for Pulsed Photocatalysis on Nanostructures. ACS NANO 2024. [PMID: 38990155 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c01802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Photocatalysis with plasmonic nanostructures has lately emerged as a transformative paradigm to drive and alter chemical reactions using light. At the surface of metallic nanoparticles, photoexcitation results in strong near fields, short-lived high-energy "hot" carriers, and light-induced heating, thus creating a local environment where reactions can occur with enhanced efficiencies. In this context, it is critical to understand how to manipulate the nonequilibrium processes triggered by light, as their ultrafast (femto- to picoseconds) relaxation dynamics compete with the process of energy transfer toward the reactants. Accurate predictions of the plasmon photocatalytic activity can lead to optimized nanophotonic architectures with enhanced selectivity and rates, operating beyond the intrinsic limitations of the steady state. Here, we report on an original modeling approach to quantify, with space, time, and energy resolution, the ultrafast energy exchange from plasmonic hot carriers (HCs) to molecular systems adsorbed on the metal nanoparticle surface while consistently accounting for photothermal bond activation. Our analysis, illustrated for a few typical cases, reveals that the most energetic nonequilibrium carriers (i.e., with energies well far from the Fermi level) may introduce a wavelength-dependence of the reaction rates, and it elucidates on the role of the carriers closer to the Fermi energy and the photothermally heated lattice, suggesting ways to enhance and optimize each contribution. We show that the overall reaction rates can benefit strongly from using pulsed illumination with the optimal pulse width determined by the properties of the system. Taken together, these results contribute to the rational design of nanoreactors for pulsed catalysis, which calls for predictive modeling of the ultrafast HC-hot adsorbate energy transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Schirato
- Department of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Milano 20133, Italy
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa 16163, Italy
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Stephen Keith Sanders
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | | | - Peter Nordlander
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Laboratory for Nanophotonics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Giuseppe Della Valle
- Department of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Milano 20133, Italy
- Istituto di Fotonica e Nanotecnologie─Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, Milano I-20133, Italy
| | - Alessandro Alabastri
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Laboratory for Nanophotonics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Smalley-Curl Institute, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
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Zinzani S, Baletto F. Coalescence of AuPd nanoalloys in implicit environments. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024. [PMID: 38963293 DOI: 10.1039/d4cp00916a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
The optimal design of nanoparticles and nanoalloys arises from the control of their morphology which depends on the synthesis process they undergo. Coalescence is widely accepted as one of the most common synthetic mechanisms, and it occurs both in the liquid and gas phases. Coalescence is when two existing seeds collide and aggregate into a larger object. The resulting aggregate is expected to be far from the equilibrium isomer, i.e. the global minimum of the potential energy surface. While the coalescence of nanoparticles is well studied in a vacuum, sparse computational studies are available for the coalescence in an environment. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we study the coalescence of Au and Pd nanoseeds surrounded by an interacting environment. Comparing the initial stages of the coalescence in a vacuum and the presence of an interacting environment, we show that the formation kinetics strongly depends on the environment and on the size of the nanoalloy. Furthermore, we show that it is possible to tune the resulting nanoalloys' surface chemical composition by changing their surrounding environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Zinzani
- Università degli Studi di Milano - Dipartimento di Fisica, Via Celoria 16, Milano I-20133, Italy.
| | - Francesca Baletto
- Università degli Studi di Milano - Dipartimento di Fisica, Via Celoria 16, Milano I-20133, Italy.
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Zhang Q, Li W, Zhao R, Tang P, Zhao J, Wu G, Chen X, Hu M, Yuan K, Li J, Yang X. Real-time observation of two distinctive non-thermalized hot electron dynamics at MXene/molecule interfaces. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4406. [PMID: 38782991 PMCID: PMC11116487 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48842-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The photoinduced non-thermalized hot electrons at an interface play a pivotal role in determining plasmonic driven chemical events. However, understanding non-thermalized electron dynamics, which precedes electron thermalization (~125 fs), remains a grand challenge. Herein, we simultaneously captured the dynamics of both molecules and non-thermalized electrons in the MXene/molecule complexes by femtosecond time-resolved spectroscopy. The real-time observation allows for distinguishing non-thermalized and thermalized electron responses. Differing from the thermalized electron/heat transfer, our results reveal two non-thermalized electron dynamical pathways: (i) the non-thermalized electrons directly transfer to attached molecules at an interface within 50 fs; (ii) the non-thermalized electrons scatter at the interface within 125 fs, inducing adsorbed molecules heating. These two distinctive pathways are dependent on the irradiating wavelength and the energy difference between MXene and adsorbed molecules. This research sheds light on the fundamental mechanism and opens opportunities in photocatalysis and interfacial heat transfer theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Zhang
- Institute of Medical Photonics, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics and Dalian Coherent Light Source, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian, 116023, P.R. China
| | - Wei Li
- Suzhou Laboratory, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
- GuSu Laboratory of Materials, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ruixuan Zhao
- Institute of Medical Photonics, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, P.R. China
| | - Peizhe Tang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, P.R. China
| | - Jie Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics and Dalian Coherent Light Source, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian, 116023, P.R. China
| | - Guorong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics and Dalian Coherent Light Source, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian, 116023, P.R. China
| | - Xin Chen
- Suzhou Laboratory, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
- GuSu Laboratory of Materials, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mingjun Hu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, P.R. China
| | - Kaijun Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics and Dalian Coherent Light Source, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian, 116023, P.R. China.
- Hefei National Laboratory, Hefei, 230088, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Jiebo Li
- Institute of Medical Photonics, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, P.R. China.
| | - Xueming Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics and Dalian Coherent Light Source, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian, 116023, P.R. China
- Hefei National Laboratory, Hefei, 230088, China
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Advanced Light Source Research, College of Science, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
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Mokkath JH. Hot carrier creation in a nanoparticle dimer-molecule composite. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:14796-14807. [PMID: 38717785 DOI: 10.1039/d4cp00950a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Light-matter interactions have garnered considerable interest owing to their burgeoning applications in quantum optics and plasmonics. Utilizing first principles calculations, this work explores the hot carrier (HC) generation and distribution within a composite system made up of a plasmonic nanoparticle dimer and linear polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules. We examine the spatial and energetic distributions of HCs by initiating photoexcitation and allowing localized surface plasmon dephasing. By positioning PAH molecules within the plasmonic nanodimer's gap region, our investigation uncovers HC tuning. Notably, depending on the size of the PAH molecules, there are significant alterations in the HC distribution. Hot electrons (HEs) are distributed across both the nanodimer and the PAH molecule, while hot holes (HHs) become entirely localized on the PAH as the PAH grows larger. These findings improve our understanding of plasmon-molecule coupled states and provide guidance on how to customize HC distributions through the creation of hybrid plasmonic materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junais Habeeb Mokkath
- College of Integrative Studies, Abdullah Al Salem University (AASU), Block 3, Khaldiya, Kuwait.
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Mokkath JH. Plasmon induced hot carrier distribution in Ag 20 -CO composite. Chemphyschem 2024; 25:e202300602. [PMID: 38185742 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202300602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
The interaction between plasmons and the molecules leads to the transfer of plasmon-induced hot carriers, presenting innovative opportunities for controlling chemical reactions on sub-femtosecond timescales. Through real-time time-dependent density functional theory simulations, we have investigated the enhancement of the electric field due to plasmon excitation and the subsequent generation and transfer of plasmon-induced hot carriers in a linear atomic chain of Ag20 and an Ag20 -CO composite system. By applying a Gaussian laser pulse tuned to align with the plasmon frequency, we observe a plasmon-induced transfer of hot electrons from the occupied states of Ag to the unoccupied molecular orbitals of CO. Remarkably, there is a pronounced accumulation of hot electrons and hot holes on the C and O atoms. This phenomenon arises from the electron migration from the inter-nuclear regions of the C-O bond towards the individual C and O atoms. The insights garnered from our study hold the potential to drive advancements in the development of more efficient systems for catalytic processes empowered by plasmonic interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junais Habeeb Mokkath
- Quantum Nanophotonics Simulations Lab, Department of Physics, Kuwait College of Science And Technology, Doha Area, 7th Ring Road, P.O. Box, 27235, Kuwait
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Dall’Osto G, Marsili M, Vanzan M, Toffoli D, Stener M, Corni S, Coccia E. Peeking into the Femtosecond Hot-Carrier Dynamics Reveals Unexpected Mechanisms in Plasmonic Photocatalysis. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:2208-2218. [PMID: 38199967 PMCID: PMC10811681 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c12470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Plasmonic-driven photocatalysis may lead to reaction selectivity that cannot be otherwise achieved. A fundamental role is played by hot carriers, i.e., electrons and holes generated upon plasmonic decay within the metal nanostructure interacting with molecular species. Understanding the elusive microscopic mechanism behind such selectivity is a key step in the rational design of hot-carrier reactions. To accomplish that, we present state-of-the-art multiscale simulations, going beyond density functional theory, of hot-carrier injections for the rate-determining step of a photocatalytic reaction. We focus on carbon dioxide reduction, for which it was experimentally shown that the presence of a rhodium nanocube under illumination leads to the selective production of methane against carbon monoxide. We show that selectivity is due to a (predominantly) direct hole injection from rhodium to the reaction intermediate CHO. Unexpectedly, such an injection does not promote the selective reaction path by favoring proper bond breaking but rather by promoting bonding of the proper molecular fragment to the surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Dall’Osto
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Chimiche, Università di
Padova, via F. Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Margherita Marsili
- Dipartimento
di Fisica e Astronomia “Augusto Righi”, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy
| | - Mirko Vanzan
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Chimiche, Università di
Padova, via F. Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Dipartimento
di Fisica, University of Milan, Via Giovanni Celoria 16, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Daniele Toffoli
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, University
of Trieste, via L. Giorgieri 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Mauro Stener
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, University
of Trieste, via L. Giorgieri 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Stefano Corni
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Chimiche, Università di
Padova, via F. Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Istituto
Nanoscienze-CNR, via
Campi 213/A, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Emanuele Coccia
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, University
of Trieste, via L. Giorgieri 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy
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Mokkath JH. Plasmon induced hot carrier generation in a pyridine@Au20 composite. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:28750-28760. [PMID: 37850351 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp02907g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Using time-dependent density functional theory calculations, we have investigated the generation of hot carriers (HCs) in a system comprising a pyridine molecule and a tetrahedral Au20 plasmonic cluster. Our findings indicate that the decay of the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) induced in the pyridine@Au20 system by a laser pulse facilitates the direct transfer of hot electrons from the occupied states of the Au20 cluster to the unoccupied molecular orbitals of pyridine. Notably, we have identified that the interparticle gap distance between the Au20 cluster and the pyridine molecule plays a critical role in controlling the generation of HCs. By precisely controlling the interaction between the plasmonic cluster and the molecule, we can effectively manipulate the energy distribution of the generated HCs. These insights have the potential to drive advancements in the development of more efficient systems for plasmonic catalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junais Habeeb Mokkath
- Quantum Nanophotonics Simulations Lab, Department of Physics, Kuwait College of Science and Technology, Doha Area, 7th Ring Road, P.O. Box 27235, Kuwait.
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