Inside every plasmon-catalyzed reaction is the potential for an incredible application!

The conversion and storage of solar (and other form of renewable) energy is a topic that has occupied us for a long time and is only becoming more important with global climate change. Plasmonic catalysis is a method of converting light energy into chemical energy through heterogeneous catalytic reactions induced by plasmons. Together with Zhiyang Zhang, Janina Kneipp  delves into the exciting world of plasmon-assisted reactions, focusing on the role of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) in unraveling their underlying mechanisms. SERS, as a powerful spectroscopic technique, allows for the in-situ observation of molecular interactions at the nanoscale, providing invaluable insights into the key steps of plasmon-catalyzed reactions as well as their potential for application. Check out their Chapter in Surface- and Tip-Enhanced Raman Scattering Spectroscopy!

Abstract

Due to its high efficiency and selectivity, plasmonic catalysis has attracted a lot of attention in heterogeneous catalysis. This chapter discusses plasmon-assisted reactions in the context of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopic probing, which, as plasmon-enhanced spectroscopic tool, has been providing one of the main means to obtain an understanding of important steps in reaction mechanisms that involve the excitation of localized surface plasmon resonances as primary event. Important model reactions will be introduced, and aspects of their mechanisms will be discussed, together with methodological approaches that led to their observation, as well as their potential applications.