Our group has worked on the design of novel nanoplasmonic systems for their use as photocatalysts applied to organic transformations.1 We have employed Ag nanocubes for hydrogen activation and hydrogenation of ketones and aldehydes via irradiation at 405 nm, corresponding to the position of the plasmon band of the nanocubes.2 We have also developed Ru decorated Au nanoparticles able to tackle the difficult arene hydrogenation under mild conditions.3 Light irradiation of this system at the wavelength of the Au NP surface plasmon resonance afforded reaction rate acceleration of about 11 fold in both model reactions of alkene and arene reduction of atmospheric or mild pressures. In another example, we designed a silica-covered Ag nanosupport to enhance the performance of tris(bipyridine)ruthenium(ii) in oxidative organic transformations. The excitation of the surface plasmon resonance of the Ag core enables an enhancement of both the catalytic activity as well as fluorescence of the dye, which is dependant on the distance between them. Transmission Electron Microscopy - Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy allowed to gain insight into the intensity of the surface plasmon resonance around the plasmonic metal in both the Ru and Ag NPs presented.

Applications of plasmonic catalysis to organic transformations

ACS Spring 2022

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