Catalytic Boosting by Surface-Plasmon-Driven Hot Electrons on Antenna-Reactor Schottky Nanodiodes

Significant research has focused on enhancing catalyticperformancethrough solar energy conversion, and the design of photocatalysisincorporating surface plasmons is drawing considerable attention asa highly competitive catalyst system. Although the hot electron processis the primary mechanism in plasmonic photocatalysis, the precisefunction of hot electron transport in catalytic reactions remainsunclear due to the absence of direct measurement. Here, we demonstratethe intrinsic relationship between surface-plasmon-driven hot electronsand catalytic activity during hydrogen oxidation, utilizing catalyticSchottky nanodiodes (Pt/Ag/TiO2) for antenna-reactorplasmonic photocatalysis. The simultaneous and independent measurementsof hot electron flow and catalytic turnover rate show that the plasmoniceffect amplifies the flow of reaction-induced hot electrons (chemicurrent),leading to enhanced catalytic activity. Plasmonic photocatalytic performancecan be controlled with light wavelengths, intensity, surface temperature,and structures. These results elucidate the hot electron flow on photocatalysisand offer improved strategies for efficient catalytic devices.

Automated summary

Significant research has focused on enhancing catalytic performance through solar energy conversion. The design of photocatalysis incorporating surface plasmons is drawing considerable attention as a highly competitive catalyst system. In this study, the intrinsic relationship between surface-plasmon-driven hot electrons and catalytic activity during hydrogen oxidation was demonstrated using catalytic Schottky nanodiodes (Pt/Ag/TiO2) for antenna-reactor plasmonic photocatalysis. The results showed that the plasmonic effect amplifies the flow of reaction-induced hot electrons, leading to enhanced catalytic activity. Plasmonic photocatalytic performance can be controlled with light wavelengths, intensity, surface temperature, and structures.