Energetic carriers can be generated from plasmon decay at the metal interface. However, effectively harnessing these hot carriers presents a significant challenge. When a plasmonic nanoparticle interfaces with a liquid solution, hot electrons can be transferred into the solution and stabilized by surrounding solvent molecules, forming solvated electrons. These solvated electrons possess a strong reducing potential, making them promising drivers for various redox chemistries in a homogeneous environment. While their non-plasmonic generation typically requires harsh physical and chemical conditions that can also create other reactive species, limiting their applicability, plasmon-induced solvated electron production occurs selectively under comparatively mild light excitation.
In the Link Research Group, we are investigating the mechanisms of plasmon-induced solvated electron generation and are pioneering ways for how to increase solvated electron yields. Our goal is to achieve high quantum efficiencies through the strong near-field of optimally designed plasmonic nanoelectrodes under mild electrochemical conditions and low-powered continuous-wave light.
Ultimately, we aim to leverage plasmon-enhanced photoemission to conduct controlled redox chemistry with solvated electrons, opening new pathways for selective synthesis of valuable chemicals, production of fuel, or degradation of environmental hazards.
Selected publication:
- A. Al-Zubeidi, B. Ostovar, C. C. Carlin, B. C. Li, S. A. Lee, W,-Y, Chiang, N. Gross, S. Dutta, A. Misiura, E. K. Searles, A. Chakraborty, S. T. Roberts, J. A. Dionne, P. J. Rossky, C. F. Landes, and S. Link, Mechanism for plasmon-generated solvated electrons, PNAS, 120, 3, e2217035120 (2023)