Metal Semiconductor Heterostructures for Photocatalytic Conversion of Light Energy.

For fast separation of the photogenerated charge carriers, metal semiconductor heterostructures have emerged as one of the leading materials in recent years. Among these, metal Au coupled with low bandgap semiconductors remain as ideal materials where both can absorb the solar light in the visible region. It is also established that on excitation, the plasmonic state of gold interacts with excited state of semiconductor and helps for the delocalization of the photogenerated electrons.

Dopant-controlled selenization in Pd nanocrystals: the triggered Kirkendall effect.

Doping foreign impurities in host nanomaterials can induce new materials properties. In addition, doping can also influence the crystallization process and change the shape and/or phase of the host material. While dopant-induced changes in the properties of materials have been well studied, the concept of doping and its chemistry in the design of different nanostructures has rarely been investigated.