A Novel Self-Assembly Strategy for the Fabrication of Nano-Hybrid Satellite Materials with Plasmonically Enhanced Catalytic Activity



Morris, Gareth, Sorzabal-Bellido, Ioritz ORCID: 0000-0001-8050-1443, Bilton, Matthew ORCID: 0000-0002-0475-2942, Dawson, Karl ORCID: 0000-0003-3249-8328, McBride, Fiona ORCID: 0000-0003-2985-3173, Raval, Rasmita, Jäckel, Frank ORCID: 0000-0002-9486-7996 and Diaz Fernandez, Yuri A ORCID: 0000-0003-3422-8663
(2021) A Novel Self-Assembly Strategy for the Fabrication of Nano-Hybrid Satellite Materials with Plasmonically Enhanced Catalytic Activity. Nanomaterials, 11 (6). p. 1580.

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Abstract

<jats:p>The generation of hydrogen from water using light is currently one of the most promising alternative energy sources for humankind but faces significant barriers for large-scale applications due to the low efficiency of existing photo-catalysts. In this work we propose a new route to fabricate nano-hybrid materials able to deliver enhanced photo-catalytic hydrogen evolution, combining within the same nanostructure, a plasmonic antenna nanoparticle and semiconductor quantum dots (QDs). For each stage of our fabrication process we probed the chemical composition of the materials with nanometric spatial resolution, allowing us to demonstrate that the final product is composed of a silver nanoparticle (AgNP) plasmonic core, surrounded by satellite Pt decorated CdS QDs (CdS@Pt), separated by a spacer layer of SiO2 with well-controlled thickness. This new type of photoactive nanomaterial is capable of generating hydrogen when irradiated with visible light, displaying efficiencies 300% higher than the constituting photo-active components. This work may open new avenues for the development of cleaner and more efficient energy sources based on photo-activated hydrogen generation.</jats:p>

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: plasmonic material, plasmon enhanced catalysis, silver nanoparticles, quantum dots, water splitting, hydrogen generation, renewable energy
Divisions: Faculty of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering
Faculty of Science and Engineering > School of Physical Sciences
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 17 Jun 2021 09:29
Last Modified: 18 Jan 2023 22:34
DOI: 10.3390/nano11061580
Open Access URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/6/1580
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3126703