Design of hybrid plasmonic nanostructures for enhanced photocatalytic activity

Abstract

newline ABSTRACT newlineThe utilization of gold and silver plasmonic nanostructures has recently emerged as a newlinebooming field of research due to their fascinating optical properties attributable to a newlineunique phenomenon known as localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). LSPR is newlinedefined as the confinement of a surface plasmon in a nanoparticle of size comparable to newlineor smaller than the wavelength of light used to excite the plasmon. After being resonantly newlineexcited by the light, the LSP produces a strong electric field that is localized near the newlinemetal surfaces. During both the excitation and decay processes of LSP, the electron-hole newlinepairs, the strong electric field, and the heat generated can serve as potential excitation newlinesources for the molecules present in proximity to the metal nanoparticles. LSPR can be newlinetuned by altering the shape and size of plasmonic nanostructures. As a result, the optical newlineproperties of these materials can be tailored to accomplish the requirements of a newlineparticular application. Tuning plasmon resonance can be achieved with remarkable newlineprecision by manipulating the shape of metal nanoparticles. By changing the size of newlinenanoparticle, surface plasmon resonances in spheres can be tuned over a narrow newlinewavelength range (a few tens of nm), but shape anisotropy adds an additional level of newlineflexibility for tuning these wavelengths over a wide range. Due to their one-of-a-kind newlineoptical properties, plasmonic nanoparticles have the potential to be utilized in a wide newlinerange of areas, including biosensing, SERS, photocatalysis, photothermal therapy, and newlinemany others. When two or more distinct types of plasmonic metal nanostructures are newlinecombined, they have the potential to produce extraordinary plasmonic capabilities. The newlineintegration of two or three different components within the same nanostructure not newlinejust adds up the properties of the individual components but also imparts novel properties newlineupon the hybrid nanostructure as a result of the synergistic effect. Enhanced reactivity, newlineproduct selectivity, and optical sens