Spatial Distributions of Single-Molecule Reactivity in Plasmonic Catalysis

Plasmonic catalysts have the potential to accelerate and control chemical reactions with light by exploiting localized surface plasmon resonances. However, the mechanisms governing plasmonic catalysis are not simple to decouple. Several plasmon-derived phenomena, such as electromagnetic field enhancements, temperature, or the generation of charge carriers, can affect the reactivity of the system. These effects are convoluted with the inherent (nonplasmonic) catalytic properties of the metal surface. Disentangling these coexisting effects is challenging but is the key to rationally controlling reaction pathways and enhancing reaction rates. This study utilizes super-resolution fluorescence microscopy to examine the mechanisms of plasmonic catalysis at the single-particle level. The reduction reaction of resazurin to resorufin in the presence of Au nanorods coated with a porous silica shell is investigated in situ. This allows the determination of reaction rates with a single-molecule sensitivity and subparticle resolution. By variation of the irradiation wavelength, it is possible to examine two different regimes: photoexcitation of the reactant molecules and photoexcitation of the nanoparticle's plasmon resonance. In addition, the measured spatial distribution of reactivity allows differentiation between superficial and far-field effects. Our results indicate that the reduction of resazurin can occur through more than one reaction pathway, being most efficient when the reactant is photoexcited and is in contact with the Au surface. In addition, it was found that the spatial distribution of enhancements varies, depending on the underlying mechanism. These findings contribute to the fundamental understanding of plasmonic catalysis and the rational design of future plasmonic nanocatalysts.

Dose Rate Effects in Fluorescence Chemical Dosimeters Exposed to Picosecond Electron Pulses: An Accurate Measurement of Low Doses at High Dose Rates

The development of ultra-intense electron pulse for applications needs to be accompanied by the implementation of a practical dosimetry system. In this study four different systems were investigated as dosimeters for low doses with a very high-dose-rate source. First, the effects of ultra-short pulses were investigated for the yields of the Fricke dosimeter based on acidic solutions of ferrous sulfate; it was established that the yields were not significantly affected by the high dose rates, so the Fricke dosimeter system was used as a reference. Then, aqueous solutions of three compounds as fluorescence chemical dosimeters were utilized, each operated at a different solution pH: terephthalic acid - basic, trimesic acid - acidic, and coumarin-3-carboxylic acid (C3CA) - neutral. Fluorescence chemical dosimeters offer an attractive alternative to chemical dosimeters based on optical absorption for measuring biologically relevant low doses because of their higher sensitivity. The effects of very intense dose rate (TGy/ s) from pulses of fast electrons generated by a picosecond linear accelerator on the chemical yields of fluorescence chemical dosimeters were investigated at low peak doses (<20 Gy) and compared with yields determined under low-dose-rate irradiation from a 60 Co gamma-ray source (mGy/s). For the terephthalate and the trimesic acid dosimeters changes in the yields were not detected within the estimated (∼10%) precision of the experiments, but, due to the complexity of the mechanism of the hydroxyl radical initiated reactions in solutions of the relevant aromatic compounds, significant reductions of the chemical yield (-60%) were observed when the C3CA dosimeter was irradiated with the ultra-short pulses.

Bimetallic Effect of Single Nanocatalysts Visualized by Super-Resolution Catalysis Imaging

Compared with their monometallic counterparts, bimetallic nanoparticles often show enhanced catalytic activity associated with the bimetallic interface. Direct quantitation of catalytic activity at the bimetallic interface is important for understanding the enhancement mechanism, but challenging experimentally. Here using single-molecule super-resolution catalysis imaging in correlation with electron microscopy, we report the first quantitative visualization of enhanced bimetallic activity within single bimetallic nanoparticles. We focus on heteronuclear bimetallic PdAu nanoparticles that present a well-defined Pd-Au bimetallic interface in catalyzing a photodriven fluorogenic disproportionation reaction. Our approach also enables a direct comparison between the bimetallic and monometallic regions within the same nanoparticle. Theoretical calculations further provide insights into the electronic nature of N-O bond activation of the reactant (resazurin) adsorbed on bimetallic sites. Subparticle activity correlation between bimetallic enhancement and monometallic activity suggests that the favorable locations to construct bimetallic sites are those monometallic sites with higher activity, leading to a strategy for making effective bimetallic nanocatalysts. The results highlight the power of super-resolution catalysis imaging in gaining insights that could help improve nanocatalysts.