Plasmonic Photocatalysis: Activating Chemical Bonds through Light and Plasmon

• Published in: Advanced optical materials 2022-08, Vol.10 (15), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Jain, Vanshika, Kashyap, Radha Krishna, Pillai, Pramod P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: antenna reactors; Carrier density; Chemical bonds; chemical reactions; Current carriers; hot charge carriers; Materials science; Nanoparticles; Optics; Photocatalysis; plasmonic nanoparticles; Plasmonics; Plasmons; Semiconductor materials; single‐particle studies
• ISSN: 2195-1071; 2195-1071
• DOI: 10.1002/adom.202200463

The exceptionally large charge‐carrier density in photoexcited plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) can be used for the making and breaking of high‐energy chemical bonds, which forms the basis of plasmonic photocatalysis. This review showcases the roadmap of important events and major bottlenecks in plasmonic photocatalysis, along with highlighting a few probable solutions for achieving the desired targets. The review starts with a discussion on various excitation and relaxation pathways, followed by the section on initial use of plasmons in enhancing the photocatalytic properties of semiconductor materials. Next, the sole use of plasmonic NPs in driving useful and industrially relevant chemical transformations is discussed. This is followed by a critical assessment of various challenges and opportunities in the area, along with a discussion on emerging experiments capable of overcoming these challenges. Decades of research have provided a clear understanding on charge generation and decay processes in plasmonic NPs. However, achieving an efficient separation and utilization of charge carriers is still a roadblock in realizing the full potential of plasmonic NPs in catalysis. In short, doing chemistry with plasmons is attractive; but it is high time to develop strategies that can quantitatively utilize the charge carriers for driving chemical transformations in a selective and efficient way. Chemistry with plasmons: Harnessing solar energy with plasmonic nanoparticles to make and break high‐energy chemical bonds is the basis of plasmonic photocatalysis. This review provides a comprehensive, yet a critical and insightful assessment on the area of plasmonic photocatalysis, with an emphasis on the emerging strategies to solve some of the long‐term challenges in the area.