Colloid-synthesized matchstick-shaped Au-ZnO heterogeneous nanorods are found to have the Zn ion terminated plane in the ZnO-Au interface without the formation of Au-O bonds based on the atomic-resolution observation of their interfacial structure and electronic states, which is greatly different from the other reported results. The Au-ZnO heterogeneous nanorods with a good expitaxial interface have shown a stronger surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signal of the dopamine molecules than Au nanoscale seeds alone, which is attributed to the enhanced charge transfer (CT) effect of ZnO which is greatly improved by the plasmon-induced hot electron from Au nanostructures. The enhanced CT effect has also been proved by a higher photocatalysis efficiency. Furthermore, the plasmon-induced hot electron transfer mechanism in Au-ZnO heterogeneous nanorods has been confirmed by a slow rise time of electrons in the transient absorption measurements. These findings suggest the dependency of the plasmon-induced hot electron transfer mechanism on the different mixing of the metal and semiconductor band levels.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c9nr02969a | DOI Listing |
ACS Nano
January 2025
State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
Photothermal disinfection (PTD) offers promising potential for water purification due to its sustainable and broad-spectrum bactericidal properties, although it is hindered by slow charge separation in photosensitizers. Herein, we present a plasma-mediated PTD technique utilizing an efficient localized heating effect induced by incident light at specific wavelengths for rapid bacterial inactivation. A metallic CuS photosensitizer, derived from electronic waste through a biomimetic transmembrane confined-assembled strategy, facilitates collective and coherent oscillation of free electrons around Cu atoms in the near-infrared range.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFACS Nano
January 2025
Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos 13566-590, Brazil.
Monolayers of transition-metal dichalcogenides, such as MoS, have attracted significant attention for their exceptional electronic and optical properties, positioning them as ideal candidates for advanced optoelectronic applications. Despite their strong excitonic effects, the atomic-scale thickness of these materials limits their light absorption efficiency, necessitating innovative strategies to enhance light-matter interactions. Plasmonic nanostructures offer a promising solution to overcome those challenges by amplifying the electromagnetic field and also introducing other mechanisms, such as hot electron injection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFACS Nano
January 2025
Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States.
Plasmonic semiconductors exhibit significant potential for harvesting near-IR solar energy, although their mechanisms of plasmon-induced hot electron transfer (HET) are poorly understood. We report a transient absorption study of plasmon-induced HET in p-CuS/CdS type II heterojunctions. Near-IR excitation of the p-CuS plasmon band at ∼1400 nm leads to ultrafast HET into the CdS conduction band with a time constant of <150 fs and a quantum efficiency of ∼0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdv Mater
December 2024
State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, iChEM, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Dalian, 116023, China.
Plasmonic resonance intensity in metallic nanostructures plays a crucial role in charge generation and separation, directly affecting plasmon-induced photocatalytic activity. Engineering strategies to enhance plasmonic effects involve designing specific nanostructures, such as triangular nanoplates with sharp corners or dimer nanostructures with hot spots. However, these approaches often lead to a trade-off between enhanced plasmonic intensity and resonance energy, which ultimately determines local charge density and photocatalytic performance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNanophotonics
May 2024
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering Program, & Center for Experiments on Quantum Materials (CEQM), University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.
Plasmonic modes confined to metallic nanostructures at the atomic and molecular scale push the boundaries of light-matter interactions. Within these extreme plasmonic structures of ultrathin nanogaps, coupled nanoparticles, and tunnelling junctions, new physical phenomena arise when plasmon resonances couple to electronic, exitonic, or vibrational excitations, as well as the efficient generation of non-radiative hot carriers. This review surveys the latest experimental and theoretical advances in the regime of extreme nano-plasmonics, with an emphasis on plasmon-induced hot carriers, strong coupling effects, and electrically driven processes at the molecular scale.
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