Journal
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
Volume 135, Issue 30, Pages 10894-10897Publisher
AMER CHEMICAL SOC
DOI: 10.1021/ja4007639
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Funding
- NSF [CHE-1255387]
- UNR startup funds
- Direct For Mathematical & Physical Scien
- Division Of Chemistry [1255387] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
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We describe a method to detect individual semiconducting nanoparticles (NPs) using the photo-electrochemical (PEC) current measured at an ultra-microelectrode (UME). We use photooxidation of MeOH by TiO2 NPs as a model system of photocatalysis in solution. NPs suspended in MeOH under constant illumination produce valence-band holes that oxidize MeOH. The electrons are collected at the UME, and the current-versus-time data show discrete current changes that are assigned to particle-by-particle interactions of the NPs with the UME. The stepwise changes in the photocurrent denote irreversible attachment of NPs to Pt UMEs (<30 mu m diameter). We found that accumulation of electrons in the conduction band by the NPs is not enough to explain the stochastic PEC currents. We propose that the observed anodic steps have a PEC nature and are due to photooxidation of MeOH by the NPs at the electrode surface.
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