Noble metal nanoparticle plasmonic photocatalysts

Plasmonic catalysis is an emerging technology which holds the promise of utilizing light to facilitate a chemical transformation. Antenna nanoreactor is comprised of a plasmonic core and a transition metal shell in which the plasmonic core can absorb the light and generate the highly energetic electrons (hot electrons) and the transition metal shell receives these hot carriers to facilitate a chemical reaction. Since the interaction of the antenna nanoreactors with light generate the hot carriers, investigation of how these materials interact with light is crucial. The overall goal of this project is to investigate the interaction of light with the antenna reactors with different plasmonic cores (Au, Ag and TiN) in the first step and investigation of the ability of these materials for solar energy conversion, and production of clean and green fuels such as hydrogen via water splitting, and carbon dioxide mitigation in the second step.

Faculty Supervisor:

Karthik Shankar

Student:

Partner:

Technical University of Munich

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Environmental Science and Technology; Nanotechnology; Green/Alternative Energy

University:

University of Alberta

Program: