Colloidal semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are effective photocatalysts for many types of PCET-mediated chemical reactions (CO<sub>2 </sub>reduction, alcohol oxidation, and nitrobenzene reduction will be highlighted here). In order to determine the rate-limiting steps of these reactions and determine the degree of coupling between proton-transfer and electron-transfer steps, the concentration of protons at the QD surface needs to be precisely controlled and quantified. This talk describes a method to do so using the protonation equilibrium of the ligands on the QDs in aprotic solvent, and the sensitivity of the optical spectra of the QDs to this equilibrium.

PCET with colloidal quantum dots: Quantification of surface proton concentration and demonstrations of PCET-mediated colloidal catalysis

255th National Meeting (2018)

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