Plasmon-assisted electrochemical reactions
Hot carriers vs. thermal effects
The decay of localized surface plasmons in metallic nanoparticles can proceed through nonradiative channels, including the production of hot charge carriers and heat, both of which can affect electrochemical reactions happening at the surface. We have developed a coupled optical and scanning electrochemical optical microscopy approach that allows us to independently probe the impact of these different plasmon decay mechanisms on electrochemical reactions and quantify light-induced substrate photovoltages, shifts in equilibrium potentials, and changes in mass transport properties of redox probes.
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Representative publications:
- Y. Yu, K. Wijesekara, X.X. Xi, K.A. Willets. “Quantifying Wavelength-Dependent Plasmonic Hot Carrier Energy Distributions at Metal/Semiconductor Interfaces.” ACS Nano. 13, 3629 (2019).
- Y. Yu, J.D. Williams, K.A. Willets. “Quantifying Photothermal Heating at Plasmonic Nanoparticles by Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy.” Faraday Discussions. 210, 29 (2018).
- Y. Yu, V. Sundaresan, K.A. Willets. “Hot Carriers vs. Thermal Effects: Resolving the Enhancement Mechanisms for Plasmon-Mediated Photoelectrochemical Reactions.” J. Phys. Chem. C. 122, 5040 (2018).
- K. Marchuk and K.A. Willets. “Localized surface plasmons and hot electrons.” Chemical Physics. Invited Perspective. 445, 95-104 (2014).
