Colloidal nanocrystals present unique size, shape and composition dependent properties that can be exploited for light harvesting applications. This gains further importance owing to the chemical processibility of such nanostructures allowing to disperse them in different solvents, embedding them in films and coating them on surfaces and on electrodes. Forming hybrid nanoparticles composed of two or more disparate materials on one nanosystem opens up new possibilities in soalr energy harvesting with colloidal nanoparticles. One particularly interesting combination of materials is that of a metal and semiconductor in the same nanoparticle exemplified by metal tips grown on a semiconductor nanorod. Light induced charge separation may take place at the unique metal-semiconductor interface in such hybrids opening the path to their implementation in solar energy harvesting. We developed the growth of various metals on semiconductor nanorods. We also discovered a new family of hybrid nanoscale inorganic cages exemplified by the selective edge growth of Ru on Cu2S nanoparticles. Light induced charge separation in these systems was studied by various means, including electrostatic force microscopy and photocatalysis of a model dye, as well as by ultrafast time resolved spectroscopy. The process of light-induced charge separation at the metal-semiconductor interface is key for the photocatalytic activity of such hybrid metal-semiconductor nanostructures. Photocatalytic reduction of hydrogen in the water splitting reaction will be reported, comparing the function of different systems, and the dependence on different parameters of the nanoparticle.

Light induced charge seperation and photocatalysis in hybrid semiconductor-metal nanoparticles

246th National Meeting (2013)

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