Engineering heterogeneous metal catalysts for high selectivity typically involves the synthesis of nanostructures with well-controlled geometries and compositions. However, inherent relationships between the energetics of elementary steps, the so-called scaling relationships, limit the control of catalytic selectivity through these approaches. Photon excitation of metal catalysts can induce chemical reactivity channels that cannot be accessed using thermal energy, although the potential for targeted activation of adsorbate-metal bonds is limited because the processes of photon absorption and adsorbate-metal bond photoexcitation are typically separated spatially. In this talk, I will highlight results that demonstrate how small metal nanoparticles and plasmonic particles force photon absorption to occur at adsorbate metal interfaces. These photon absorption events often occur due to electronic excitation processes that include states associated with adsorbates and the metal. Because adsorbate-derived states are responsive to adsorbate composition, the ability of photons to induce elementary surface reactions can be adsorbate-specific and is not dictated by thermochemical scaling relationships. These findings open important avenues for controlling catalytic processes on surfaces through targeted bond activation.<br/>

Bond-specific photon interactions with metal catalysts: Toward breaking scaling relationships

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.